The Prince and Princess of Wales had a lasting reminder of their 2011 royal wedding at one of King Charles’ residences – until the monarch gave up the property in 2023.
The Duchy of Cornwall purchased Llwynywermod for £1.2 million in 2007, and it was transformed by architect Craig Hamilton from a model farm into three separate cottages and a Grade II-listed barn. The latter served as Charles’ primary Welsh base until his accession to the throne.
After the coronation, the Duchy was passed to his son, Prince William. Charles continued to pay rent on the 192-acre property in Carmarthenshire, but decided not to renew the lease in 2023. According to The Telegraph, it was “unlikely” Charles would be able to use the home in the same way as before.
Meanwhile, Prince William reportedly prefers to support the local economy by staying in hotels.
With new tenants, William and Kate will no longer be able to privately revisit their wedding trees planted in the garden.
Six of the English field maples, which had formed the avenue of trees at Westminster Abbey, were rehomed at the Welsh bolthole in 2011. The property also had sentimental value for Queen Camilla, since she tasked her sister, Annabel Elliot, founder of Annabel Elliot Interior Design and Antiques, with the interior design.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesCharles’ unearthed comments
The then-Prince Charles explained his attachment to the property in various interviews. When asked about having a Wales retreat, Charles told Wales View magazine it enabled him “to be part of the local community around Llandovery.”
During a chat with the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage on BBC Radio 4, Charles opened up about his love of the rural location, stating it took him years to find the “right” cottage, and his only regret was not purchasing it sooner.
© Chris Jackson“I now, at last, have somewhere in Wales to base myself, from time to time. Rather 40 years too late, probably. It’s been a wonderful opportunity, at last, to have somewhere in Wales. I come whenever I can. It’s an important part of holding this particular title. It took me years to establish somewhere – it wasn’t through want of trying. But it was difficult to find the right place.
He described his home as a “Godsend”, adding: “And I stump about in the Brecon Beacons and explore, which is magic, and fight my way through large numbers of sheep all over the place. It is very special because it’s more of a cottage. For me, the joy has been in getting to know the local people – some wonderful characters in this part of the world. Who are very special, I think.”
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