Heir BnB! Prince William wants to spend time in B&Bs in Wales
Heir BnB! Prince William would rather spend time in B&Bs and holiday homes in Wales than royal residences
- Prince William wants to ‘take the walk’ by using holiday rentals when he’s in Wales
- William will also outline a five-year project to end homelessness in Britain
Prince William wants to spend more time in Wales in B&Bs and holiday rentals than in a permanent royal residence, a palace source has revealed.
The new Prince and Princess of Wales have no plans for a property there, but will “support the tourism economy” by renting cottages and booking bed and breakfast rooms.
Their plans have emerged ahead of a major announcement tomorrow in which William will outline a five-year project to end homelessness in Britain.
Sources close to William, who discussed his campaign with senior politicians from all parties, described it as a “major intervention.”
They say William, who has homes in Kensington Palace, Windsor and Norfolk, wants to ‘take the walk’ by using rentals when he’s in Wales.
Their plans have emerged ahead of a major announcement tomorrow in which William will outline a five-year project to end homelessness in Britain.
However, his plan can be controversial. Last year a report from the Parliament of Wales pointed to ‘a link between holiday home ownership and high house prices’.
It added: ‘There are concerns that a large number of second homes and short-term rentals are affecting the sustainability of the community.
With the local population moving away due to the lack of affordable housing, towns and villages are threatening to become increasingly empty outside the holiday season. This can lead to closure of local services.’
Dr. Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Bangor University, said: ‘Wales is unusual in Britain in that it has no official royal residence.
“The king got around this by having his own property here. There is a surplus of royal property and William’s plan fits more into the broader theme of downsizing the royal family.
The new Prince and Princess of Wales have no plans for a home in Wales, but will “support the tourism economy” by renting cottages and booking bed and breakfast rooms
“It also gives the couple a chance to get to know different parts of Wales better, as the north and south are different areas.”
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.’