Prince William has told his father that he will have to pay to stay as a guest at his beloved Welsh holiday home – and that he will have to move all his belongings out of the property, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The King is said to be ‘miffed’ after William, the new Prince of Wales, told his father that he intended to rent out the picturesque cottage that Charles bought for £1.2 million in 2007 and lovingly restored.
The property, Llwynywermod, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, was purchased through the Duchy of Cornwall, which William took over last year following the late Queen’s death.
Charles spent a week or two each summer at Llwynywermod, but William did not renew his father’s lease.
After September it will be available for rent as a holiday home – much to the king’s ‘disappointment’, according to an insider. It means that Charles has to move his belongings and personal belongings.
The King is said to be ‘miffed’ after William, the new Prince of Wales, told his father he plans to rent out the picturesque cottage (pictured) that Charles bought in 2007 for £1.2million
The property, Llwynywermod, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, was purchased through the Duchy of Cornwall, which William (pictured) took over after the late Queen’s death last year
The three bedroom house has a barn attached to the main house, which has been renovated using traditional techniques, and is set in 192 acres of rolling countryside.
Llwynywermod will be marketed to holidaymakers after September. Three nearby Duchy properties have already been leased. The three bedroom North Range cottage costs £2,400 per week. Charles had Llwynywermod restored with the help of architect Craig Hamilton.
Interiors were done by the Queen’s sister, Annabel Elliot, in an elegant yet rustic style. The King, Queen and Elliot have put a lot of time and effort into renovating the cottage, which has many thoughtful touches.
In the renovated barn that now serves as a dining room for up to 16 guests, a huge new east-facing window was designed by Hamilton. There’s even attention to detail on the floor, with bespoke rugs based on an 18th century Welsh rug design.
In line with the King’s wish for the building to be sustainable, a wood chip boiler provides heating and hot water for the entire estate. Outside there is a storage room for rainwater.
The King selected roses, jasmine and honeysuckle for the gardens, along with six maples that lined the aisle at Kate and William’s 2011 wedding at Westminster Abbey and have since been replanted in the grounds.
After September it will be available for rent as a holiday home – much to the king’s disappointment, according to an insider
In line with the King’s wish for the building to be sustainable, a wood chip boiler provides heating and hot water for the entire estate
Interiors were done by the Queen’s sister, Annabel Elliot, in an elegant yet rustic style. In the photo: the main reception area
The King, Queen and Elliot have put a lot of time and effort into renovating the cottage, which has many thoughtful touches. In the photo: the dining room
There’s even attention to detail on the floor, with bespoke rugs based on an 18th-century Welsh rug design
Such was his affinity for the place that the king agreed to continue paying for the upkeep of the property, including the cost of hiring the two topiary experts to maintain the manicured trees and shrubs on the property.
Last night a royal source said: ‘The king was quite angry, but that was the deal. It means he can continue to live there, but he pays rent to the Duchy and the rest of the time it is rented out.’
“The king has agreed to pay for the maintenance of the topiary, because he does not want all the good work on the grounds to go to waste.”
The Mail on Sunday revealed last month that William wants to spend more time in Wales in B&Bs and holiday rentals than in a permanent royal residence.
Such was his affinity for the place that the king agreed to continue paying for the upkeep of the property. In the photo: the guest room
In the photo: the central reception
Palace sources said the prince and princess want to support the tourism economy by renting cottages and rooms.
In April, the couple visited the Bluebell Inn in the hamlet of Glangrwyney, Brecon Beacons, for dinner with friends, then retreated to the £1,000-a-night Duffryn Mawr mansion.
Rental website Airbnb calls it a ‘beautifully renovated large country house’ for 16 people.
Kimberley Fry, owner of Duffryn Mawr and the Bluebell, said: ‘They walked in just like the locals.
‘They had a reservation and we kept it quiet, but the locals in the pub were very surprised to see them. We felt very privileged to have them here.
‘We charged the going rate, as we do for everyone.’