It’s the end of an era for King Charles III. Although the Prince of Wales title and its attendant properties went to his eldest son, Prince William, following his ascension to the crown, the King of England has held onto his Welsh residence, Llwynywermod, paying rent to the Duchy of Cornwall. All that is coming to an end, according to Telegraph.
Citing royal sources, the outlet reported that although Charles is still “passionate” about Wales, he will let his lease on the countryside property expire this summer, given that he won’t have the opportunity to stay as often as when he was Prince. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Prince William reportedly said that he prefers to stimulate the local economy by staying in hotels and doesn’t plan to establish a permanent home in the country. It seems likely that the home will become available to visit or rent, as smaller cottages on the 192-acre estate are already available to rent for vacation stays.
Located on the edge of the mountainous Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in southern Wales, the property originally belonged to a relative of Anne Boleyn named William Williams in the 13th or 14th century, according to the BBC. In 2007, Charles bought the estate through the Duchy of Cornwall for about $1.5 million. Architect Craig Hamilton restored the three-bedroom main home, which was once a model farm carriage house, using local and reclaimed materials with the help of Welsh craftsmen. There are also three cottages, a barn that houses a wood chip boiler (which heats the entire estate), and the crumbling ruins of the manor house that once graced the property.
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The residence’s interiors were designed by Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, who filled the place with Welsh furniture, textiles, and antiques. Charles, who is known for his green thumb, planted roses, jasmine, and honeysuckle in the gardens. Six maple trees which originally lined the aisle at Prince William and Kate’s 2011 wedding have been replanted on the estate’s grounds.