Prince Charles sparks fury by telling residents he has the right to mine under homes

The heir to the throne has sent hundreds of letters to homes in St Austell, Cornwall in a move slammed as a "medieval land grab"



Prince Charles has been accused of a "medieval land grab" after claiming the right to mine under homes in a coastal town.

Hundreds of residents have been sent letters saying the heir to the throne can dig for minerals beneath them in his Duchy of Cornwall.

And they fear they will not be able to stop Charles – an environmental campaigner – from mining under their properties in an area famous for tin.

Land registry documents sent to dozens of homes in St Austell, Cornwall say: "We have received an application for ­registration of mines and minerals including powers of working and getting any such minerals.

"The mines and minerals lie under your registered title."

The letter lists the applicant as "His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George Duke of Cornwall".

The duchy – founded in 1337 and traditionally held by the heir to the throne – includes the right to income from thousands of acres.

Paul and Joan Marrett, 67, were among residents sent the letter.

Mr Marrett, 69, said: "The behaviour of our future king harks back to the medieval times where if the monarch wanted land he just seized it.

"Whether we like it or not, the duchy's rights are going to appear on our deeds."

He said when the couple bought their £190,000 home two years ago to be nearer their grandchildren there was no mention of the prince's entitlement.

The letter says the application "does not indicate that the Duchy has any present intention to work the minerals".

But ­residents are worried it does not rule out mining work.

Mr Marrett added: ­"Something may develop in five years' time and they might want to get at it."

He has spoken to a ­solicitor and plans to challenge the prince's application.

A spokesman for the duchy said: "Due to a change in the law, along with other owners of mineral rights across the country, the Duchy of Cornwall is having to register its mineral rights with HM Land Registry in order to preserve them for the future."

He said the rights did not have to be in individual deeds before because they were granted by a 19th-century act of Parliament.

In November, villagers in Stoke Climsland, also in Cornwall, accused the royal of "bully tactics" after he invoked his right to mine under their homes.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-charles-sparks-fury-telling-3741369#ixzz35gPCdQAU

Remind me, what century are we living in?

That's what is so great about England - The Royal Family!

I should think everything is legal.

We're not living in medieval times you know, Sassy.

If you think that, hope he tells you he will be mining under your home.