King Charles gives up Welsh mansion with link to William and Kate's wedding

03 June 2023 , 21:45

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The lease is due to expire later in the summer, with Buckingham Palace confirming the King gave notice to the Duchy of Cornwall earlier this year (Image: Getty Images)

King Charles has given up his £1.2million cottage in rural Wales as he begins to downsize his property portfolio.

The monarch used the luxury farmhouse Llwynywermod regularly when he was Prince of Wales after purchasing it in 2007.

But sources said it is "unlikely" Charles, 74, will continue to utilise the property as often now he is King. Six of the English field maples, which formed the avenue of trees at William and Kate's 2011 wedding, were later rehomed at the Welsh retreat.

Charles also owns or uses Birkhall, Highgrove, Clarence House, Balmoral and Sandringham, and aides are reportedly considering what to do with this large portfolio.

One royal source told Telegraph it was "an issue that needs to be addressed" - with discussions underway about increasing public access to some of Charles's properties to help with funding.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla have regularly stayed at the large farmhouse before Charles became monarch (Getty Images)

The King has paid rent on Llwynywermod, which exists on a whopping 192-acre estate near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire.

The lease is due to expire later in the summer, with Buckingham Palace confirming the King gave notice to the Duchy of Cornwall earlier this year.

Other properties on the estate are available as holiday rentals when the King is not in residence.

A spokesman for the Prince of Wales has reportedly said the royal had no plans to buy his own home in Wales, preferring to stay in hotels to help the local economy.

It is thought the monarch wants to give up the house and its estate (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Charles had previously described the property as a "godsend" but felt he had bought it "40 years too late".

The Duchy and Duchess of Cornwall tend to spend a few weeks a year at the secluded and sustainable three-bedroom farmhouse.

There are also two adjoining cottages, which sleep six and four respectively, in a courtyard which are available for holiday let.

There are also two adjoining cottages at Llwynywermod (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Speaking in 2021, Charles said: "Rather 40 years too late, probably. But it's been a wonderful opportunity, at last, to have somewhere in Wales. I come whenever I can... I've always felt that it's an important part of holding this particular title.

"It took me years to establish somewhere, it wasn't through want of trying but it was difficult to find the right place.

"I used to go to different other houses which was very kind of people to lend them for a week or something, but it wasn't the same thing obviously until finally we found this, which has been a Godsend really."

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Clarence House tweeted in 2013: "The trees from the Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey are thriving at Llwynywermod."

Charles has spoken in the past of the "enduring landscape of Wales" and how "its mountains, patchworked fields and woods; its coastline, castles, villages and market towns" play a vital role in attracting visitors.

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