King Charles 'quietly buys £3m country escape in Wiltshire' in bid to maintain Queen Camilla’s ‘privacy'
Charles apparently purchased the property beside Camilla's country retreat
King Charles has reportedly purchased a £3 million country retreat in Wiltshire in a move seen as an effort to maintain Queen Camilla’s privacy at her beloved Ray Mill House.
According to The Mail on Sunday, the king privately acquired the neighbouring property, known as The Old Mill, which is situated along the River Avon and dates back to the Norman Conquest.
The publication claims a source said that a proposal to sell The Old Mill next door and turn it into a wedding venue has caused Camilla “great anxiety”.
King Charles ‘buys £3m property’ in Wiltshire
The insider said: “Think of it – dozens of wedding guests carousing every weekend just the other side of her fence.”
They added: “The new arrangement is a pragmatic solution, being both a sound financial investment and a way of maintaining Her Majesty’s privacy, protection and continued enjoyment of her much-loved home, without any public funds being used.
“I know how grateful and relieved she is, not least given all the additional stresses and anxieties of the past year.”
Queen Camilla reportedly purchased Ray Mill House in the mid 1990s for £850,000 following her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles.
It was her primary residence from 1996 to 2003. She now uses it as a rural retreat, away from the pressures of royal life.
The secluded home features an outdoor swimming pool, stables and expansive gardens. Camilla has sought refuge at Ray Mill House during significant personal moments.
These include the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
The estate has also served as the backdrop for her 75th birthday portraits and the wedding reception of her daughter, Laura Lopes, in 2006.
The purchase of The Old Mill suggests that King Charles is keen to further protect Camilla’s privacy. This will ensure that she has a secure retreat near his own beloved estate, Highgrove House.
Inside King Charles’ Highgrove House
While Camilla’s go-to retreat is Ray Mill House, King Charles is known to favour Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. He purchased the home in 1980.
According to royal author Robert Hardman, the secluded estate is referred to as Charles’ “sanctuary”.
Hardman wrote in his book Charles III: “In good times and bad, as both the Prince of Wales and now as king, he likes to retreat to his ‘sanctuary’, his tiny chapel in the grounds of Highgrove, to gather his thoughts.”
I know how grateful and relieved she is, not least given all the additional stresses and anxieties of the past year.
Charles himself also reflected on the importance of having a truly private space.
“The great thing is that it is somewhere where nobody can get me,” he said in 2008. “Anywhere in the house, there is always a telephone, or somebody can always come. It is very important to have somewhere just to allow a moment.”
King Charles’ purchase of The Old Mill has not been officially confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
However, it has been seen as a strategic decision that ensures that Camilla retains her private sanctuary.
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
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