What is the thinking behind the King's housing project?

Given some of the negative coverage and commentary on social media about the visit of the King, accompanied by Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, to the newly completed village of Nansledan in Cornwall, you'd think that Charles had just joined the Labour Party a truly historic moment - and was on his way to his first -meeting of the local branch of Unison (the primary union for public-sector people such as his majestic self).

- SEAN O'GRADY

The context to the admittedly unusual photocall has been somewhat neglected. In short, it might have been better if the palace and No 10 had headlined their publicity: "Major South West Landlord and Builder shows Prime Minister around his Latest Development". No one would have cared - which is maybe the point...

What is Nansledan?

It's an "extension", ie a model suburb, of Newquay. The 218hectare site hosts a mixed development on former fields of some 4,000 homes, a primary school, an orchard, and various business premises which will, it's said, create about 4,000 jobs.

Work began on the land in 2013, when the King was still Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, which meant he was responsible for the Duchy of Cornwall estate, consisting of 43,000 hectares of land and a formidable investment portfolio. The Duchy dates back to 1337, when it was established by Edward III. It is private but its activities are governed by statute. Nansledan is a commercial development, and requires no public subsidy.