Prince William (43) is swapping royal protocol for the editorial red pen for one issue. The British heir to the throne will serve as guest editor of the traditional magazine "Country Life" - creating an issue entirely dedicated to his passion for rural life. The magazine announced this on Wednesday, as reported by the British daily newspaper "The Daily Telegraph".
Specifically, William is taking over the November 11 issue. In it, he wants to showcase his connection to the English countryside and advocate for the protection of nature. A particular concern will be his commitment to better mental health care in rural regions - an issue that has occupied him for years.
Favorite View, Favorite Recipe, Favorite Picture
Readers of the issue will get to know William from a very personal side. Plans include his favorite countryside view, his preferred recipe, and a painting selected by him. Additionally, the 43-year-old wants to present his own selection of people who, in his view, have made valuable contributions to rural areas.
"Country Life" editor-in-chief Mark Hedges expressed his enthusiasm. He met with the heir to the throne last week to discuss his plans and was impressed by how much rural life means to William. Hedges is convinced that William's perspectives, concerns, and hopes for the future of rural areas will resonate strongly with readers.
The Duchy of Cornwall as a Passion Project
Behind William's commitment lies solid experience. As Duke of Cornwall, he has managed the billion-dollar Duchy of Cornwall since 2022, an approximately 700-year-old estate spanning around 55,000 hectares across several counties.
He is particularly concerned about the well-being of the people who work the land. In 2023, he launched a mental health program for farmers on the duchy's lands. It was his top priority that his tenants feel supported, he explained at the time according to the newspaper. He also actively addresses loneliness in rural areas - for example, by organizing gatherings. He visits the estate every four to six weeks by his own account, often for private appointments with families and staff.
Following in the Footsteps of King and Queen
With his position as guest editor, William is entering into a royal tradition. Before him, his father King Charles III - in 2013 and 2018 for his 65th and 70th birthdays - as well as Princess Anne (2020) and Queen Camilla (2022) had edited the 129-year-old magazine. According to the "Daily Telegraph", Camilla's issue for her 75th birthday became the most successful issue in the magazine's history with nearly 70,000 copies sold.
Just this past October, soccer star David Beckham also edited the issue - as the first person outside the royal family. William's issue, meanwhile, follows an appearance by his father: Last November, King Charles graced the cover after having the gardens of his Sandringham estate in Norfolk restored.
