William inherits Duchy of Cornwall as Charles becomes king in 2022

Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral, her Scottish residence, on 8 September 2022 after 70 years on the throne. Her eldest son immediately became King Charles III, and his elder son, William, became first in line to the throne.

Under long-standing arrangements, the Duchy of Cornwall passes to the monarch's eldest son who is heir to the throne. William, previously Duke of Cambridge, therefore became Duke of Cornwall and took over the duchy. It is a private estate of land and property, much of it in south-west England, whose income traditionally funds the heir's public work and family life. Charles had run it for more than 50 years.

The following day, on 9 September, King Charles announced in his first address to the nation that William would become Prince of Wales, the traditional title of the heir. The title was formally conferred in February 2023.

The change gave William a new public role and responsibility for a large rural estate. That is why his later projects, such as guest-editing Country Life, a magazine about the British countryside, are read against his wider position as heir.