Prince William doesn’t completely leave royal work behind when on family vacations with Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Telegraph tagged along with the Prince of Wales on a recent visit to the Duchy of Cornwall, the $1 billion estate that provides funds for the heir to the throne, and learned that William’s mission to make life better for its residents doesn’t pause during private time. When they visit Tresco — a favorite destination for the family located in the Isles of Scilly, which is part of the duchy — the prince is known for chatting with locals about ways to improve the community.
His conversations have resulted in changes such as a new healthcare facility equipped with a maternity suite, a housing plan for key workers such as teachers and doctors and a project aimed at creating more sustainable tourism.
Family trips to the Isles of Scilly, off the southwest coast of England, are a throwback to Prince William’s own childhood, when he and Prince Harry were taken to the islands by their parents, Princess Diana and the future King Charles.
During a 2020 vacation there, a fellow vacationer told the Daily Mirror, “William and Kate were riding their bicycles, having a laugh. They looked so happy enjoying the weather. I did do a double-take. They were really friendly and said hello.”
Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and Prince William on Dec. 25, 2024.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
In May 2024, Prince William visited the Isles of Scilly on royal duty, revealing that George, now 11, Charlotte, now 10, and Louis, now 7, were jealous of his work trip.
“My family are very upset I’m here without them,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. “The children will kill me if I don’t go home later.”
He did purchase pastries from the On the Quay cafe, possibly to bring home and share with his family.
Prince William visits the Isles of Scilly on May 10, 2024.
BEN BIRCHALL/POOL/AFP via Getty
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Established by King Edward III in 1337, the Duchy of Cornwall spans 130,000 acres of land, farms and other assets which provide funds to support the heir to the throne and his family. However, Prince William is also determined to make life better for its residents through sustainability objectives, mental health initiatives, charitable partnerships and more.
Prince William told The Telegraph, “I’m trying to make sure I’m prioritizing stuff that’s going to make people’s lives, living in those areas, better. This is what we’re going to do to make people’s lives in Cornwall better.”
“That, I feel as Duke of Cornwall, is something I should be doing,” he added. “It’s about responsibility, it’s about leadership and doing what’s right on the social issues of our time.”
The duchy’s secretary, Will Bax, described the Prince of Wales as “a man on a mission” — and “pretty demanding,” in a good way.
“He’s easy to follow because he’s got great conviction and personality, and he really wears his heart on his sleeve in terms of social interest and his desire to have a positive impact in the world,” Bax said.
Estate director Ben Murphy told the outlet that the heir has a “healthy impatience, as his father did,” which “puts the wind in our sails.”