Prince William | Prince William hires an old friend at the Duchy of Cornwall Estate

Prince William offered a job to Prince George’s godfather.

The Prince of Wales inherited the Duchy of Cornwall Estate after the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth in September 2022 and appointed William Van Cutsem, one of his oldest and closest friends, as an adviser.

Documents for the Duchy’s annual report obtained by the Daily Telegraph newspaper describe the 44-year-old chartered surveyor as having a “strong interest in regenerative farming practices in family homes and farming businesses”.

News of William’s appointment comes shortly after it was revealed the prince had removed Queen Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot from the estate’s payroll.

King Charles – who previously owned the Duchy of Cornwall Estate – appointed his sister-in-law as chief estate designer after his marriage to Camilla in 2005, paying her several hundred thousand pounds for her services as an interior designer, working throughout world. Portfolio of holiday cottages in Cornwall, Wales and Isles of Scilly.

Previous accounts showed Annabel was paid “in the normal course of business and at arm’s length” varying amounts of between £19,625 and £82,272 to maintain her rental properties as well as the Duchy’s offices and nursery and was also reimbursed in addition. amounts for the purchase of furniture and furnishings.

However, the Estate’s most recent accounts – covering William’s first full year as Duke of Cornwall – showed the interior designer had not been paid for his services in 2023-24.

But Annabel was recently hired to oversee work on the visitor center and restaurant at Balmoral, the king’s Scottish residence, ahead of its public opening this summer, and royal sources have confirmed she will be involved in the household when they come “appropriate opportunities”.

He is also believed to have carried out some work on the Sandringham Estate in the last 18 months.