Prince William's senior estate official has reportedly acted apologetically to tenants affected by plans to sell 3,000 acres of Duchy of Cornwall land that has belonged to the royal estate for nearly 700 years.

The Prince of Wales, 44, has discussed the proposed sale of the Bradninch estate in Devon with the Duchy's rural director, Matthew Morris, following concerns raised by residents about the future of their homes and farms.

Matthew was described as "all apologetic" during a meeting with tenants, according to The Observer, and has reportedly agreed to commission fresh independent property valuations.

The proposed sale, which emerged in May, forms part of a wider restructuring of the Duchy of Cornwall, with William seeking to redirect investment towards housing, environmental restoration and renewable energy projects.

According to People magazine, Matthew agreed the tenants' properties should be independently revalued for a second time following concerns that some farms had been priced too highly.

The new valuations are expected to be carried out jointly with tenants to provide greater confidence in the figures being used during negotiations.

The sale process began in March, with affected residents facing the prospect of purchasing their properties or relocating.

Discussions have continued between Duchy officials and tenants, with a source telling People both sides were "still having really positive conversations".

The source said most farming tenants were actively considering buying their properties, although there was an acknowledgement that the process had taken longer than some residents had hoped.

A spokesperson for the Duchy of Cornwall said: "We recognise that these are important and deeply personal decisions. Every tenant is being supported through the process on an individual basis, with access to practical guidance from the estate team, independent welfare and mental health support services and ongoing discussions about what is right for their circumstances. These services have been available for many years and remain available throughout this process."

The spokesperson continued: "All tenants are being offered first refusal to purchase their homes and farms, often with discounts that reflect both the length of tenure and type of tenancy they have and the investment they have made in the property."

According to the Duchy, eight of the nine farming tenants affected by the proposed sale are actively exploring the possibility of purchasing some or all of their farms.

Approximately two-thirds of residential tenants are also considering buying their homes.

The spokesperson added: "Through ongoing discussions with tenants, eight out of nine farming tenants are actively exploring the purchase of some or all of their farm, while around two-thirds of residential tenants are considering the same option."

The estate said the proposed changes were part of a longer-term programme intended to reshape how the Duchy manages its land and investments.

The spokesperson said: "These changes are part of a long-term strategy to direct future Duchy of Cornwall investment where it can deliver the greatest long-term benefit for communities, farming, nature and the local economy."

They added: "We will continue to support tenants with care, respect and fairness, whatever decision they ultimately make."

The proposed sale was first reported in May, when The Times revealed that William intended to dispose of approximately a fifth of the Duchy's landholdings as part of a long-term investment strategy.

The estate plans to focus on five geographical areas - Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Isles of Scilly, Bath and parts of London - while investing in housing, nature recovery and renewable energy.

The Duchy was established in 1337 by King Edward III to provide an income for the heir to the throne and has remained closely associated with successive Princes of Wales.

William inherited the estate from his father, King Charles III, 77, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

The Duchy owns more than 128,000 acres across England and Wales and generates private income used to support William's household, staff and official duties.

The estate is said to have been valued at more than £1 billion, while William reportedly receives an annual private income of approximately £30 million from its activities.

William has made housing and homelessness central themes of his public work, launching the Homewards programme in 2023 to develop local initiatives aimed at preventing homelessness across the United Kingdom.

His involvement in the initiative was documented in Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, which examined his efforts to address housing insecurity.

He has also promoted environmental projects through the Earthshot Prize, which supports initiatives tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.