PRINCE Charles has been widely praised for giving a “lesson in being a royal” in a documentary last night that gave an insight into the workings of the Duchy of Cornwall.
Viewers showered praise on Charles with some urging Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to “take note” following their controversial interviews with Tom Brady that aired on Sunday night.
Some viewers drew comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interviews days earlier, where they discussed the stresses of royal life
Airing on ITV last night, the first instalment of the two-part documentary took viewers through Duke of Cornwall’s 1billion estate, which covers more than 130,000 acres across 23 counties.
It earned rave reviews on social media, with fans praising Prince Charles for being down to earth.
One viewer tweeted: “Dear Duke & Duchess of Sussex – a How to guide for you both. A documentary about his WORK, not HIM. A lesson in being a Royal. Take note.”
Another wrote: “Something decent and intelligent to watch. No drama…just getting on with it.”
Maxine Dyer tweeted: “Wonderful Prince Charles documentary last night. After a very shaky week my faith in the monarchy has been well and truly restored”.
Marianne Dunn added: “Brilliant-and much needed”.
Another tweeted: “What a lovely, heart warming programme Inside the Duchy proved to be. Thank you Prince Charles for reminding us why we love the Royal Family. Look forward to seeing William’s input next week! #nomoaninghere”
Last night’s documentary came after Harry and Meghan admitted they were struggling with the intense media attention and press scrutiny in an
Prince Charles’ documentary came after Harry and Meghan spoke to Tom Bradby about struggling to deal with negative media coverage.
Meghan told how she was struggling with the scrutiny of being a royal and branded the British stiff upper lip attitude damaging.
Harry, 35, also went public with his feud with William saying the pair had good and bad days and were on “different paths”.
Then, in a briefing to US media on Tuesday, a source close to Harry and Meghan said they had “single-handedly modernised the monarchy” – a claim likely to cause unease among already concerned relatives.
Royal insiders criticised the Duke and Duchess, 38, for airing their problems publicly.
While Harry and Meghan’s interviews focused on their lives as royals, Charles’ documentary examined the work and people that live in the Duchy of Cornwall.
The programme showed the Duchy’s headquarters near Buckingham Palace, young couples farming in Hertfordshire and struggling farms on the Isles of Scilly.
One person wrote: “Nice little documentary about Prince Charles last night #DuchyofCornwall He’s obviously been doing this for decades but no one has cared because he was always over shadowed. Good effort to keep going with zero accolades all this time. Makes him all the more genuine.”
Another called the documentary a “wonderful and educational piece!” adding: “Adored focus on Prince Charles, his beliefs and feelings on his world for decades. Caring and astute man who will be King.”
AN INSIDE LOOK
Tenants in the show echoed such positive sentiments about the future king, with one saying, “He has no airs and graces…he’s one of us.”
Revenue from the 23-county estate is used to fund the public, private and charitable activities of the Duke and his family.
The Duchy of Cornwall was set up in 1337 by Edward III.
The area was designed to provide independence for Edward’s son and heir, and since then, the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, so that the Duchy is always overseen by the next in line to the throne.
Today, the Duchy is a collection of land, investments and property worth an estimated 1 billion, and the second episode will feature Prince William, who will take over the estate from his father, who has spent 50 years in charge.
In the documentary, Charles talk of his emotions when William expressed an interest in one day receiving the estate.
He said: “When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it, I was deeply touched and moved by what he said.
“It practically reduced me to tears.
“Because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him, has made the last 50 years worthwhile.”
Charles said he nearly cried when William expressed an interest in taking over the estate, which is traditionally given to the next in line to the throne
The Prince of Wales is currently on a tour of Japan, where he met with the Welsh rugby team ahead of their World Cup Semi Final on Sunday
