William’s move from Cambridge to Wales

As the new heir to the throne receives his father’s royal titles, he also takes control of vast historic estates worth least £1bn

- Christopher Wilson Royal author

SO we will have to learn to call William the Prince of Wales.

That will take time, seeing as his father bore the title for almost as long as Elizabeth II was Queen.

And the title of Princess of Wales will sit gracefully on the shoulders of Kate – a true and worthy successor to Princess Diana.

King Charles, in his address to the nation, yesterday revealed he was “proud to create” his son and heir William as Prince of Wales.

The Duke of Cambridge has also become Duke of Cornwall. He inherits vast lands dating from the reign of Edward III in the Fourteenth century.

They are worth at least £1billion and include 205 square miles – or an eyepopping 0.2 per cent – of Britain’s landmass. Most famously, perhaps, William’s new bailiwick includes Dartmoor prison – but Duchy properties stretch all over the country: mainly in Devon and Cornwall but also out to Hereford, Somerset, Kent and far beyond.

If he was wealthy before, William is now among the world’s superrich. He is not allowed to sell his properties but will enjoy the interest from rents from them, as well the vast sums of banking interest which come from the multi-million annual surpluses ploughed back into Duchy coffers which also directly benefit him and his family.