Prince Charles has been hailed by royal fans for his in-depth ITV documentary on running the Duchy of Cornwall.
Viewers took to social media to praise the heir to the throne for making a programme on the intricacies of his work, urging Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to ‘take note’.
The two-part documentary takes viewers throughout the Duke of Cornwall’s £1 billion estate, which covers more than 130,000 acres across 23 counties.
The first episode aired tonight and earned rave reviews on social media, with fans praising Prince Charles for being down to earth, friendly and so invested in his land and the lives of the people who live there.
The ITV production comes just days after the release of one showing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visiting Africa.
The ITV programme takes an inside look into the workings of Prince Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall
It comes days after a controversial programme on Prince Harry and Meghan – something which viewers pointed out tonight
In that programme, both Harry and Meghan talked about their struggles in the public eye, while criticising the press.
In contrast, Prince Charles talks very little about his family or royal life in tonight’s show, instead focusing on the work and people that live in his Duchy.
Airing on ITV, the programme showed the Duchy’s headquarters near Buckingham Palace, young couples farming in Hertfordshire and struggling farms on the far-flung Isles of Scilly.
It went down well on social media, with viewers lavishing the Duke of Cornwall with praise.
One person wrote: ‘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 said: ‘Wow ! Love Prince Charles and Camilla. What a wonderful Man. We need to know more about our future King. Forget Megan so boring.’
And the praise for Prince Charles was widespread, with one viewer saying: ‘ Thoroughly enjoying #InsidetheDuchy this evening – fascinating to hear about the balance between business and community, modernising and tradition. I do love Prince Charles and his work.’
A second commented: ‘Watching the Duchy of Cornwall and absolutely loving it.. What a visionary Prince Charles was/is.. Amazing TV.. Well played.’
Caring for his tenants was a common theme, with one viewer saying: ‘How wonderful is Prince Charles – so lovely to see how much he cares and that he tenants love him.’
Prince Charles talks very little about his family or royal life in tonight’s show, instead focusing on the work and people that live in his Duchy
The Duchy of Cornwall’s keeper of records Alastair Martin described Prince Charles as ‘very hands on’ in his role, something that is reflected in the doc
At one point, one of the tenant farmers who live in the Duchy, said: ‘He has no airs or graces, he’s one of us. A lot of people don’t know that other side of him, I believe’
During the show, one of the tenant farmers who live in the Duchy, said: ‘He has no airs or graces, he’s one of us. A lot of people don’t know that other side of him, I believe.’
Prince Charles himself repeatedly stressed the importance of community on his estate, adding: ‘The connection between my family and their family is the most important thing.’
The show gave a glimpse into the lives of some of Prince Charles’ tenants.
They included Sam and Emily Stables, who rent 200 acres in Hertfordshire.
Speaking candidly on the programme, Prince Charles said: ‘I feel that it’s absolutely essential to provide opportunities for young people and those who are really keen, to provide them with a farm and a unit that is possible for them to start on.
‘What we do with the younger ones is try to select the, the applicants very carefully, the ones with the best chance, people who, who have a real sense of enthusiasm and energy and good ideas.’
The Duchy of Cornwall’s keeper of records Alastair Martin described Prince Charles as ‘very hands on’ in his role.
The Duchy of Cornwall was set up in 1337 by Edward III to provide independence for his son and heir, and the tradition has continued since, with the Duchy being passed down to the next in line to the throne.
Revenue from the extensive estate, which spans 23 counties, is used to fund the public, private and charitable activities of The Duke and his children.
The second episode will air next Thursday and feature Prince William and his preparations to take over the running of the estate from his father.
The show gave a glimpse into the lives of some of Prince Charles’ tenants on his estate
In a teaser clip released before the show, Prince Charles admitted he was ‘practically reduced to tears’ after his son William took an interest in taking over the Duchy of Cornwall.
The Duke of Cambridge spoke about his ‘passion’ for farming and revealed that his children are already playing on tractors as he prepares to one day inherit the Duchy – a private portfolio of land, financial investments and property – from his father.
William appears in a two-part documentary series commissioned by ITV to mark the Prince of Wales’s 50th working year as the Duke of Cornwall.
It shows William meeting farmers as he prepares to take over running the estate when his father accedes to the throne.
In the documentary, Charles admits he is ‘touched’ that William has taken an interest in the Duchy.
‘When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it, I was deeply touched and moved by what he said,’ Charles said.
‘It practically reduced me to tears.
‘Because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him, has made the last 50 years worthwhile.’