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By CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster, Billy Stockwell and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London

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King Charles III is making plans to install around 2,000 solar panels in the grounds of Sandringham Estate, in a sustainability drive that could see the entire country property powered by zero-carbon energy. 

It’s an ambitious proposal, which, if approved, will produce enough power to meet the “current and predicted future electricity demands” of the 20,000-acre royal residence, according to a proposal submitted by a planning agent on behalf of Sandringham Estate earlier this month. 

Sandringham has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862. It is also where the royal family traditionally gathers to celebrate Christmas. 

The new venture, confirmed to CNN by a Sandringham Estate spokesperson, will provide renewable energy to power Sandringham House and the visitors’ center, with any surplus electricity returned to the grid.

“Sandringham Estate promotes sustainability in its operations and is committed to using green practices to maintain the Estate for future generations and to reduce its impact on the environment,” the spokesperson told CNN.

The solar panels will be built on a secluded plot of land near Sandringham House, currently used as horse-grazing paddocks. This way, the development “would not result in the loss of any productive agricultural land,” according to the planning agent. 

The site is surrounded by mature trees and sits just outside the estate’s formal gardens. Six meters (nearly 20 feet) of hedgerow will have to be destroyed to allow access to the site, if the development does get the green light, but the applicant says there would be no adverse impact on ecology. 

The King’s latest venture follows the installation of a small number of solar panels on the roof of Sandringham House in early 2022. The monarch’s private residence, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, also has some solar panels in its gardens. 

It is one of the King’s boldest home environmental projects to date, despite questions being raised about how his ascent to the throne would affect the amount of time he can devote to climate issues.

Charles has been a long-time champion of environmental causes. Most recently, he used his platform at the World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, part of the COP28 climate conference, to call for a rapid increase in renewable energy. 

“In 2050, our grandchildren won’t be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or didn’t do,” he said in December, adding: “The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.”

The installation of solar panels on one of the royal family’s favorite estates could be viewed as a strong signal that Charles wishes to put his words into action. 

However, some have raised concerns about the plans. In response to the planning application, Steve Gower, a police officer from Norfolk Constabulary, has warned that extra security measures could be needed to stop the solar panels attracting thieves to the area.

“The rate of thefts from such facilities has been increasing in recent years,” he said in a written response to the planning application. “The combination of the rise in the value of scrap metal and the remote locations of such venues in rural areas means that security needs to be appropriately considered.”

The King’s plans are subject to a consultation process, which will run until next Friday, after which they will also be assessed by the local planning authority. A final decision is expected to be made in early June. 

If permission is granted, the solar farm will have a lifespan of 40 years before the land is returned to paddocks once again, according to the planning application.

Two cavalry horses in ‘serious condition’ after bolting through London.

Two of the Household Cavalry horses that broke free in central London on Wednesday are said to be in “serious condition,” according to an update from a British government minister on Thursday. Six soldiers and seven horses were taking part in an exercise on Wednesday morning when the animals were spooked by nearby construction works, the British Army said previously. The army said in an update on X on Thursday that five horses tried to bolt and four broke loose. Three soldiers were injured but are expected to recover fully and return to duty, the army added. Read more on the story here.

Jordan Pettitt/PA

Camilla meets with late father’s old regiment.

Queen Camilla made a visit to the Royal Lancers in North Yorkshire on Monday. It was the first time she caught up with the regiment since becoming their colonel-in-chief in June. The Royal Lancers are an armored cavalry regiment and close to Camilla’s heart as her late father, Maj. Bruce Shand, served with the 12th Lancers during World War II. He won two Military Crosses for his actions in the conflict. During the visit, the Queen was shown a tunic and other special items that once belonged to her father.   

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh attended the dawn service marking Anzac Day in London on Thursday. Anzac Day commemorates a World War I mission in which soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – or Anzacs - assisted the Allied Powers in an attempt to gain new fronts and a valuable trade route to their Russian allies. Today, the holiday has been broadened to remember every citizen’s death resulting from military conflict, with services taking place all around the world.

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Catherine, Princess of Wales made history this week when she was made Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour. A gift from the King, her appointment is the first time the title has been bestowed on a member of the royal family since it was created by King George V in 1917 to recognize “outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service,” according to Buckingham Palace. King Charles made several appointments this week. He also officially appointed his wife, Queen Camilla, as Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The Grand Master title was previously held by Charles’ father and grandfather. William, meanwhile, was made Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath – a position that Charles himself held prior to becoming monarch and one that is awarded to members of the military or civil service “for exemplary service,” the palace said.
 
Additionally, celebrated British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was one of four high-profile individuals to be inducted into one of Britain’s most exclusive clubs, thanks to Charles. He was made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the country’s most senior order of chivalry, which dates back to medieval times and the reign of King Edward III. The group’s members – Knights and Ladies – are chosen by the monarch in recognition of their service to the nation. Lloyd Webber – the musical powerhouse behind “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats” – was previously tapped by Charles to write a flagship anthem for his coronation last year. The order includes several members of the Windsor clan, former prime ministers and other senior figures. There are now 21 members of the elite group, whom we will expect to see at the summer Garter Service at the order’s spiritual home, St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.   

Find out more about royal titles here. 

The Princess of Wales

William and Kate continued their tradition of sharing a new photo of their children on their birthdays. On Tuesday, everyone’s favorite cheeky royal celebrated his sixth birthday, and to mark the occasion, a new photo of the fourth-in-line to the British throne was dropped on the couple’s social media channels. This was the first official photo from the family since the photo-editing furor over the Mother’s Day snap last month. Read our full story here.