Prince William faces backlash as Duchy of Cornwall branded 'arrogant' by residents

Prince William has been dragged into a bitter row after residents accused the Duchy of Cornwall of “arrogance” over a controversial tree-planting scheme in King Charles’s model village of Poundbury.

Locals say the Duchy has ignored their concerns about plans to plant towering bird cherry trees along their street, trees that can grow up to 82 feet tall, potentially blocking light and countryside views that homeowners say they paid a premium for.

Resident Ian Hacker told reporters he made “multiple requests” for landscaping plans but was “repeatedly ignored.” 

He added that a tree had been placed too close to his property, invalidating his insurance.

A Duchy spokesperson defended the move, saying the trees were approved as part of the 2024–2025 planting season to meet environmental and highway requirements.

The Duchy, now overseen by Prince William since King Charles’s accession in 2022, was founded in 1337 to support the heir to the throne. 

While locals accuse the estate of poor communication, William has previously said his goal is “to make people’s lives better,” vowing to modernise the Duchy while preserving its sense of community.

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