Prince William’s trip to the stunning British holiday hotspot will mark a major royal milestone

Prince William is set to mark a major milestone in his role as holder of the Duchy of Cornwall tomorrow when he visits part of the estate for the first time as Duke.

Tomorrow, William is due to make his first official visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming Duke of Cornwall in September 2022. The Prince of Wales plans to visit St Mary’s Harbour, which is run by the Duchy and handles passengers and ships. .

He will spend time with dock workers, who are employed by his estate, before moving on to pay a visit to St Mary’s Community Hospital. This small hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services for the approximately 2000 people living in the Isles of Scilly.

The duchy is working with the local council to build a new health and social care center on land it owns adjacent to the hospital. The prince will speak with hospital staff and plans to hear about the challenges healthcare presents to the island community.

The Duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in England and was established by royal charter in 1337 by King Edward III. It is traditionally owned by the eldest son of the reigning British monarch – when Charles held the duchy, he built a large personal fortune from developing the estate.

The Duchy of Cornwall is a £1 billion private estate made up of properties and investments including 130,000 acres, 260 farms, the Oval cricket ground in London and the land on which Dartmoor Prison stands.

Between 2012 and 2022, Charles received £212.7 million from the duchy, which also rents out commercial properties and sells products through the Duchy Originals brand. According to the Times Rich List, Charles’ frugal living and smart investments in growing the Duchy have allowed him to amass a fortune of £600m, almost double that of the late Queen, estimated at £370m in 2022 list.

There are two such duchies; The Duchy of Cornwall, traditionally run by the heir to the throne, now under William’s control, and the £652.8 million Duchy of Lancaster, which is overseen by the reigning monarch.