Latest news with #Prince'sFoundation
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Prince William could 'snub' King Charles' offer due to 'unfair' Kate issue
Prince William was handed the keys to his father King Charles' most beloved royal property - but a former palace insider has revealed why he and Kate Middleton may never move in. Prince William is reportedly hesitant to take up residence in a cherished Royal estate bequeathed to him by his father, according to an ex-royal staff member. Upon his ascension to the throne in September 2022, King Charles unveiled a raft of changes to the Royal pecking order, including significant roles for his son. He publicly declared about Prince William: "He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades. "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given." Part of Prince William's inheritance from his father was the stewardship of Highgrove House and Garden in Gloucestershire, a dwelling much loved by Charles and Queen Camilla. The bucolic home, once shared by Charles, his former wife, the late Princess Diana, and their young sons William and Harry, automatically became Prince William's in 2022, reports the Mirror. However, it seems unlikely that William will choose Highgrove as his future home, according to Charles' former gardener Jack Stooks, who looked after the gardens at the estate for over two decades before retiring last year. Stooks noted that the Prince's Foundation currently rents the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall, preserving it for future generations. Jack disclosed insights into Royal gardening strategies before Charles ascended the throne, remarking: "Before he became King, I think the idea was that they needed to make sure that the garden was actually protected,". Explaining the rationale, Jack suggested it revolved around Prince William's potential choices for a residence: "So I think he thought that William probably wouldn't move into Highgrove once he became King, so the idea was, 'Let's protect it somehow,' so it was given over to the Prince's Foundation. So the Prince's Foundation now rents the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall." Pondering the unique situation concerning Royal estates, Jack found it rather peculiar: "The King rents his house from William, and William rents two of his houses from the King, so yeah, it's quite odd, isn't it? To think that he's on their property, and the other ones are on the other property." Regarding reasons why Highgrove might not be William's choice, Jack speculated on the desire for independence: "I think that William's obviously got his own family now, so he's got his own family unit and they've been brought up at Anmer Hall, and also now at the Adelaide Cottage. "Highgrove was very much his mum and dad's home – where they were brought up – so it's like a family home that mum and dad lived in." Jack remarked that the Princess of Wales would be unfairly burdened by comparisons to Princess Diana if they moved into Highgrove, saying: "That's like her having to step into Diana's shoes." He added: "She's so often compared to Diana in the press, which I think is unfair because, yes, I know she's the Princess of Wales, and I know that Diana was the Princess of Wales, but they're very separate people. "They're both individual women that, you know, absolutely adore their children." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Edinburgh Live
11 hours ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Prince William may 'turn down' offer from King Charles due to Kate 'unfairness'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince William seems hesitant to take up residence at the cherished Royal estate that has been bequeathed to him by his father, King Charles, a former Royal staff member suggests. After ascending the throne in September 2022, King Charles III initiated radical shifts within the Royal family structure, assigning pivotal responsibilities to his son. He declared regarding Prince William: "He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades." King Charles lauded his son and his daughter-in-law, stating, "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given," as reported by OK! , with this new role came Prince William's inheritance of Highgrove House and Garden in Gloucestershire, a dwelling deeply cherished by both Charles and Queen Camilla, reports the Mirror. Highgrove House, situated amidst the idyllic Gloucestershire countryside, was formerly the abode of Charles, his late wife Princess Diana, and their young children, William and Harry, and transitioned to Prince William's ownership in 2022. Yet Jack Stooks, who formerly served as Charles' gardener, caring for the gardens at Highgrove for over twenty years before retiring last year, believes it is improbable that William will select Highgrove as his familial residence moving forward. Stooks highlighted that the Prince's Foundation is presently renting the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall to ensure its long-term preservation. "Before he became King, I think the idea was that they needed to make sure that the garden was actually protected," Jack revealed. Jack reasoned that this stemmed from the assumption that Prince William might not select Highgrove as his abode once he ascended to the throne, leading to proactive measures: "So I think he thought that William probably wouldn't move into Highgrove once he became King, so the idea was, 'Let's protect it somehow,' so it was given over to the Prince's Foundation. So the Prince's Foundation now rents the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall." Contemplating the intricate dynamics of Royal estate arrangements, Jack reflected: "The King rents his house from William, and William rents two of his houses from the King, so yeah, it's quite odd, isn't it? To think that he's on their property, and the other ones are on the other property." Delving into why Highgrove might not be the first choice for William, Jack cited the desire for a distinct family setting:. "I think that William's obviously got his own family now, so he's got his own family unit and they've been brought up at Anmer Hall, and also now at the Adelaide Cottage." Highlighting Highgrove's emotional significance, Jack commented: "Highgrove was very much his mum and dad's home – where they were brought up – so it's like a family home that mum and dad lived in." Jack expressed concern about the unfair pressure that might be put on the Princess of Wales if they moved into Highgrove, given the frequent comparisons made to Princess Diana. "That's like her having to step into Diana's shoes," Jack remarked, highlighting the often unjust associations made by the media. "And she's so often compared to Diana in the press, which I think is unfair because, yes, I know she's the Princess of Wales, and I know that Diana was the Princess of Wales, but they're very separate people." He then went on to acknowledge their individuality and shared affection for their children: "They're both individual women that, you know, absolutely adore their children."
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Pictures show King Charles' Scots eco-village is still a 'construction site' 15 years on
New snaps of King Charles' 'Scottish Poundbury' development have emerged with just a small fraction of the 770 planned homes, fifteen years after work began. The pioneering Knockroon eco-village, situated between the towns of Cumnock and Auchinleck in East Ayrshire, had been advertised as a showcase for the King's passion for heritage-led regeneration. However after construction initially started in 2009, just a small number of the development had been completed at around 31 properties, with seemingly no more being built since 2016. One of Britain's leading architects once branded it as little more than a "construction site". The Prince's Foundation, which pumped millions of pounds into the wider project, said in 2019 that the housing site will be "reviewed and evaluated". The project was spearheaded by the then Prince Charles as part of his restoration plans for the nearby Dumfries House estate, with the aim of revitalising the local economy. On December 7 2009, East Ayrshire Council granted preliminary planning permission for 770 homes. The Knockroon development was projected to span over 25 years, supported by The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and designed with eco-friendly principles in mind. However, in February 2019, The Scotsman reported that only 31 out of the planned 770 homes had been constructed - a figure that appears unchanged today. In July 2022, The Sunday Times revealed that the project's value had been downgraded from £15 million to just £700,000. A leading Scottish architect, Professor Alan Dunlop, once described the vision as an "imported pastiche" and a "curious mix" of relatively expensive homes dropped into a rural setting that should have never been built. In July 2022, a spokesman for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator said "we can confirm that the work of Havisham Group and property transactions relating to the Knockroon development in Ayrshire forms part of our overall investigation, work on which is ongoing." Between 2012 and 2017, Havisham Properties purchased 11 properties for £1.7 million on the Knockroon development. Speaking in 2019, Gordon Neil, deputy executive director of the Prince's Foundation, said: "The Prince's Foundation remains fully committed to realising its vision for Knockroon. "A decade has passed since the creation of the masterplan for the site, and much has changed in that time in terms of the local and wider economy. "As in all long-term construction projects, it is incumbent on us, the developers, to remain flexible and adaptable to changing conditions throughout the build, and we will conduct a review that allows us to ensure we create a development that meets the needs of the community." He added: "During the first two years of the second phase of the development, we will look to make significant investment into the project. "The project will use the local supply chain, demonstrating investment into the local community as well as minimising environmental impact through shorter transportation times of materials. "In line with The Prince's Foundation's commitment to offering education and training opportunities where possible, modern apprenticeships will be offered across all trades on the development." Here is what the 'Scottish Poundbury' development looks like now..
