The Prince of Wales employs a close friend as a property adviser to the Duchy of Cornwall

Prince George’s godfather has been appointed as an adviser to the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.

The property – the billion-pound business empire which the Prince of Wales inherited on the death of his grandmother – Elizabeth II – made profits of £23.6m in the last financial year.

William Van Cutsem, 44, one of Prince William’s most loyal and closest friends, is a chartered surveyor specializing in logistics, renewable business and building warehouses in the UK.

In the Duchy’s annual report, he is described as having a “strong interest in regenerative farming practices in family homes and farm businesses”.

The Prince of Wales and Mr Van Cutsem have country homes 20 miles apart in Norfolk and were pictured together in June at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, to Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral.

Mr Van Cutsem, who is a co-founder and investment director for a property company, is married to Rosie, who with her sister Lucia founded the successful clothing designer Troy London, often worn by the Princess of Wales.

Mrs Van Cutsem is also a close friend of the Prince of Wales.

The queen’s sister was removed

The appointment comes after William removed the Queen’s sister, Annabel Elliot, from the payroll.

The 75-year-old has been paid several hundred thousand pounds for her services as an interior designer over the past two decades.

She was hired by the King, then the Prince of Wales, as chief designer of his estates after his 2005 marriage to Camilla.