Prince William is 'pretty demanding' as boss at Duchy of Cornwall - like his father
The future king has been in charge of the Duchy of Cornwall for almost a year now, and staff who work for the estate have opened up about what he's really like.
Upon King Charles' accession to the throne, Prince William automatically inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, becoming one of the UK's largest landowners, with a 52,000-hectare (128,000-acre) estate.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Prince William made it clear that he wants to put his own stamp on the Duchy, after shadowing his father to learn the ropes. A staff member described William as a "man on a mission" to modernize the estate.
Staff members praised William's dedication to his vision for the Duchy, which faced controversy last year over its income generation.
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However, Secretary of the Duchy Will Bax admitted that William can be a "pretty demanding" boss, but believes this is a positive aspect of his leadership, reflecting his ambitious plans for the Duchy.
Bax noted that having William at the helm is beneficial, as part of his role is to amplify others: "Seeing the spark and getting the bellows out".
Estate Director Ben Murphy, who has worked for both William and his father, observed that William shares King Charles' "healthy impatience, as his father did," to get things done.
Murphy added that this impatience "puts the wind in our sails; he really cares."
An investigation by The Mirror and Channel 4's Dispatches found that the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duchy of Lancaster, estates held by the monarch, generate millions annually.
It does so by charging rent to public institutions, including schools, the NHS, and the armed forces. Notably, the Duchy of Cornwall, valued at £1.3 billion, earns £1.5 million per year from the currently unused HMP Dartmoor due to high radon gas levels.
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The probe also found some of Prince William's tenants risk fuel poverty, living in properties with poor energy efficiency ratings, leaving one in seven homes vulnerable to becoming cold, damp, and mouldy.
Responding to the backlash, Duchy staff told The Telegraph that the criticism has prompted them to be more transparent about their community support and modernization efforts.
Last year, the Duchy of Cornwall paid William nearly £24 million, on which he "voluntarily" pays income tax, although the exact amount remains undisclosed.
