Prince William Visits Nansledan Suburb in Cornwall
Prince William engaged with families residing in Nansledan, a newly developed suburb of Newquay, Cornwall, an area recognized for its British surfing heritage. The Prince of Wales's visit focused on the Market Street project, a sustainable urban extension developed by the Duchy of Cornwall since 2013.
Nansledan currently comprises approximately 900 homes, a primary school, office spaces, a community centre, and over 40 businesses, reflecting a comprehensive community infrastructure.
A family residing in one of the Build-to-Rent homes, Jess and Nick Dunstan, expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to rent from the Duchy. These homes are specifically constructed for rental purposes, offering long-term leases rather than being sold.
Jess Dunstan said the family would have "struggled" to find a rental in the area if it was not for this development.
Prince William Records Birthday Message During Walkabout
During a walkabout in the new suburb, Prince William was approached by Mark O'Mahoney, who requested a birthday message for his girlfriend, Rebecca Spencer, who was away. The prince initially forgot to press record and kindly repeated the message.
The prince told her: "Very happy birthday Rebecca, you're 38…"
O'Mahoney added: "My girlfriend was away so I asked him and he very graciously and kindly agreed."
Efforts to Address Homelessness Highlighted
Prince William also highlighted initiatives to combat homelessness locally, observing the progress of 24 new homes under construction in Nansledan in collaboration with the homeless charity St Petrocs.
Charity chief executive Henry Meacock said the organisation knew it was not going to end homelessness with just one project, but it was a "good example of a housing-based solution which is going to offer much needed capacity".
Prince William’s Journey and Interaction with Locals
The Duke of Cornwall traveled from Turkey to Nansledan on Thursday, following Aston Villa's 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul, which ended the club's 30-year wait for a trophy.
When asked about the historic occasion, he responded with laughter.
Theresa Ferguson recounted telling Prince William he had "goalkeeper hands," to which he replied that the Aston Villa goalkeeper had played with a broken finger. She noted that he appeared "over the moon" about the result.
He inquired about her football allegiance and correctly guessed she supported Celtic based on her accent.
Duchy of Cornwall’s Strategic Plans and Local Concerns
The royal visit coincided with the Duchy of Cornwall's announcement of plans to sell 20% of its estate over the next decade, aiming to invest £500 million in housing and environmental projects.
The Duchy emphasized a shift from traditional landownership towards focusing on five key areas, including Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and Dartmoor, where they believe they can make the greatest impact.
However, there have been calls for assurances that any land sales will benefit local communities and tenants, particularly concerning the Bradninch estate near Cullompton, Devon, which was listed for sale in March 2026.
Duchy of Cornwall chief executive Will Paz said his message about any sale of duchy land was that it was going to be a "period of change".
He said: "With that change comes some uncertainty. We will work with all of our partners, wherever that change is manifested, to ensure that it's as positive and as enabling as possible for everyone."
Upcoming Visit to Isles of Scilly
The Duke of Cornwall is scheduled to visit the Isles of Scilly on Friday.
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