King Charles Admits to Unexpectedly Emotional Moment With Prince William: "It Reduced Me to Tears"

The monarch was "deeply touched" by his son's words.

King Charles wearing a tan coat next to a photo of Prince William wearing a newsboy cap and coat
(Image credit: Getty Images)

King Charles has always been known for his dedication to duty, but a remark Prince William once made about the Duchy of Cornwall showed how deeply his family also values The King's legacy—so much so that it "moved" the monarch to tears.

The resurfaced moment took place during an ITV documentary titled Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall. During a conversation with a second-generation farmer—which took place before his father became King—William mused (via the Mirror), "I've started to think about how I will inherit the Duchy one day and what I do with it. I think it's really important. The family angle, I really do."

The Prince of Wales is the current beneficiary of the Duchy of Cornwall, a hereditary estate that was established centuries ago to provide income for the heir to the British throne. But before his father took the throne, it was Prince Charles who profited from the vast estate, which includes land, property and various businesses.

Prince William's heartfelt words struck a chord with his father, who admitted he was overwhelmed with emotion by the exchange. "When I saw it, I couldn't believe it. I was deeply touched and moved by what he said," King Charles shared in the documentary.

Prince William walking on a farm with several men in winter 2025

Prince William visited Duchy Focus Farm in Hereford, England, in January 2025.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"Frankly, it reduced me tears," He added. "It did, really, because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him has made the last 50 years worthwhile."

King Charles spent decades modernizing and expanding the estate to ensure it remained sustainable for future generations. Hearing Prince William acknowledge its importance and express a desire to continue his work was clearly a deeply meaningful moment for The King.

Now that Prince William is the Duke of Cornwall, he's already putting his own stamp on the Duchy. In 2024, the Prince of Wales—who has long been passionate about the issue of homelessness in the U.K.—announced a plan to build 24 homes for those in need on estate lands. According to People, the first of the houses will be completed in autumn 2025.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.