Following a long, hot summer with record temperatures and an extremely mild start to the Autumn, the UK is still struggling to build back water supplies in reservoirs, so much so that parts of England have been declared to be in "severe drought". These locations are parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex. As the owner of the Duchy of Cornwall, this could have a major impact on Prince William, who took over the role from his father in 2022, when King Charles ascended to the throne.
The Duchy is believed to own around 18,500 acres of land in Cornwall, including the Nansledan urban extension project where 4,000 homes will be built by 2045.
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It is not yet known how the drought situation could affect the Duchy's business, but the Water Minister Emma Hardy has instructed the Environment Agency to prioritise protecting public water supplies in areas impacted by severe drought. The aim is to ensure that customers' water supplies don't get affected by the issue.
Environment Secretary, Dame Angela Eagle, said: "This level of drought is something we have not experienced for decades, so this government is stepping up our support and planning."
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The government website was updated as of Thursday 15 October to explain the severity of the situation and the measures they are putting in place.
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The notice read: "Water companies in parts of England have been told to step up drought planning, as the Government takes measures to protect customer supplies in areas entering severe drought.
"The Government has declared severe drought in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex. The South East and South West have experienced their driest April to September in over a century, impacting reservoir levels in that area.
"While customer water supplies will be uninterrupted, declaring a severe drought ensures proactive steps are taken to safeguard water before any disruption occurs."
The message also outlined that there will be "daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels", "compliance checks on businesses that withdraw water from natural sources" and the creation of "Local Resilience Forums".
What is the Duchy of Cornwall?
The Duchy is an extensive property and land portfolio which extends across 21 counties in England and Wales and includes the Oval Cricket Ground and 67,000 acres of Dartmoor. It means that Prince William is the biggest private landowner in Britain, which brings in a hefty income of around £21.6 million to £23.6 million.
The Duchy's founding charter of 1337 explains that the title and control of the vast private estate automatically pass to the eldest living son of the reigning monarch who is also heir to the throne. So, one day, Prince George, William's eldest, is expected to inherit it.