Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or Balmoral might be the first places that come to mind when you think of British royal family homes.
However, there is another royal dwelling, situated on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park in the southwestern Welsh county of Carmarthenshire, that might be worth turning your attention to: King Charles III's former home in Llwynywermod.
It's owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. Fun fact: The Duchy's estate isn't restricted to the geographical borders of the Cornwall region and in fact covers more than 52,000 hectares of land.
Llwynywermod could soon become available to rent, according to British newspaper The Telegraph, which reported in June that the King had informed the Duchy that he will not renew the property's lease, which is expected to expire this summer.
The decision is reportedly due to the King's belief that it's "unlikely" he will be able to use the property in the same way as he did before while Prince of Wales. That title, you'll remember, was passed down to his son, Prince William, on Charles's coronation in May.
Two other barn conversions in Llwynywermod are already available for short holiday stays. The three-bedroom North Range and two-bedroom West Range properties form part of the courtyard adjoining the main farmhouse where the royals used to stay. Therefore, it is likely the royal lodging will also be let out commercially.
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It could be a much more enticing home to stay in - or live in, if you so wish - having been the King's sanctuary and event space for many years.
It's where the then-prince retreated after his father, Prince Philip, died in 2021, according to British media reports at the time. It was there where he reportedly found space to "contemplate the future of the royal family."
Charles routinely spent time there during annual engagements in Wales, including in July 2019 when he and his wife hosted an evening of music and drama at the property.
William Williams, a relative of the ill-fated Tudor Queen Anne Boleyn, was the original owner of the estate in the 13th to 14th century, according to the BBC. The estate passed through several hands before being purchased for the now-King in 2007 for £1.2 million ($1.5 million). |
Those who share the same environmental values as the King will be pleased to know the properties were renovated in 2008 with sustainable techniques and local materials. A wood chip boiler and electricity from a renewable source power the heating and hot water in both the estate's holiday cottages, according to the Duchy.
The three-bedroom royal lodging is set in the grounds of a ruined mansion, and on renovation, the then-prince added his own touch to the home by placing climbing plants, including Albertine roses, jasmine and honeysuckle, up the walls, according to the BBC.
Llwynywermod can be found in the small and welcomingly picturesque village of Myddfai, which has beautiful landscapes, hills, rivers, red kite birds and a 12th-century church. The wider Carmarthenshire area has stunning castles, plush gardens, Wales' largest beach and market towns full of local produce.
📖 Bonus reads:
Seeking a little more regal inspiration for your next escape? Try these stories from our archive:
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William and Kate congratulate the England women's soccer team. |
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the nation in praise of the Lionesses on making it to the quarter-final round of the Women's World Cup. England defeated Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a tense match which saw the Lionesses go down to 10 players after Lauren James was shown a red card for a stomping incident. The couple called the win "hard fought" in a post on X (formerly Twitter) before looking ahead and wishing the team good luck in their next clash, which will be against Colombia on Saturday.
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A piece of history in your pocket. |
Coins celebrating King Charles III's coronation earlier this year are starting to appear in circulation this week, according to the Royal Mint. Five million 50-pence coins have gone to UK bank branches and Post Offices. While they are the second coin to enter circulation with the King's official coin portrait, the other side features a design by Royal Mint coin designer Natasha Jenkins combining Westminster Abbey and the monarch's cypher. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, called the rollout a "special moment for the nation" and said that it gives the public an "opportunity to find a piece of history in their change." Special coins honoring both the late Queen Elizabeth II and the new sovereign were released earlier this year.
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Projections of the late Queen and King Charles III are set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle at this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - an annual spectacle that sees international teams perform incredible military drills, music and dancing. The Royal Air Force is the lead service this year and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh was on hand to take the salute in his role as Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Waddington.
His sister, Anne, Princess Royal got a sneak peek of the show when she stopped by one of the final rehearsals at Redford Barracks last week. Some of the international military bands for this year's event - which runs throughout August - have traveled from Norway, Trinidad and Tobago and Switzerland. The United States Air Force Band are also delighting spectators with their Tattoo debut with a freestyle selection depicting "America's great songbook." |
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Thai King's estranged son makes surprise return. |
The estranged second oldest son of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has made an unexpected visit to the country - his first in almost three decades - in a return that surprised many in the kingdom. Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, 42, who has been living and working in the United States, visited a daycare center for underprivileged children in Bangkok on Tuesday. "I am delighted to return to Thailand, I have been warmly welcomed. I have been away for a long time, 27 years," Vacharaesorn told reporters at the Foundation for Slum Child Care. Vacharaesorn is the second of four sons of King Vajiralongkorn, 71, and his second wife, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, whom he married in 1994 and later divorced. Read the full story here.
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"The lessons we learn on the field are the same principles of philanthropy: that a mission, hard work, dedication, and partnership can make even the impossible, possible."
– Prince Harry on the power of sport
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The Duke of Sussex this week attended the ISPS (International Sports Promotion Society) Sports Value Summit in Japan where discussions examined how sport can be used as a "vehicle to drive positive change in communities." The duke was attending as the co-founder of his Sentebale charity. After the event on Wednesday, he was set to travel on to Singapore to play in the annual Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup this weekend.
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A heads up to Royal News readers: We're going to take another short break as things wind down for the royals over the summer months. If something crops up in the meantime, we'll jump online straight away to make sure you have the latest headlines in your inbox. Otherwise we'll return to regular services on September 8.
—Max & Lauren
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