Show Menu

A private estate established in 1337 which funds the public, charitable and private activities of the Prince of Wales and his family. (Some information on this website may be out-of-date following the death of Queen Elizabeth)

About the Duchy

The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate established by Edward III in 1337 to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward. A charter ruled that each future Duke of Cornwall would be the eldest surviving son of the Monarch and heir to the throne. The current Duke is HRH The Prince of Wales. He is the 25th Duke in the estate's history. The revenue from his estate is used to fund the public, private and charitable activities of The Duke and his immediate family.

HRH The Prince of Wales in Cornwall

Some alt text

Duchy of Cornwall Eastern District office in Newton St Loe near Bath

The Duchy’s estate extends beyond the geographical boundaries of Cornwall – covering 52,449 hectares of land across 20 counties, mostly in the South West of England. It comprises arable and livestock farms, residential and commercial properties, as well as forests, rivers, quarries, and coastline. Under the guidance of the current Duke of Cornwall, it is the Duchy's responsibility to manage this estate in a way that is sustainable, financially viable and of meaningful value to the local community.

The Duchy employs more than 150 people, who work across seven offices in London, Bath, Dartmoor, Hereford, Liskeard, Poundbury and The Isles of Scilly, as well as in the Duchy's own businesses – the Duchy Nursery and the Duchy Holiday Cottages.

Discover more

The Duke of Cornwall

The Duke of Cornwall

The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate established by Edward III in 1337 to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward.

Read more
Carbon Literacy

Carbon Literacy

The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate established by Edward III in 1337 to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward.

Read more
History of the Duchy

History of the Duchy

The Duchy was created in 1337 by Edward III for his son and heir, Prince Edward. A charter ruled that each future Duke of Cornwall would be the eldest surviving son of the Monarch and the heir to the throne.

Read more