The Prince of Wales is to take on a job that his father already done twice.
Prince William is to guest edit one of the most famous magazines in Britain and he’s got a special reason for doing it.
This November, William will be in charge of one edition of Country Life magazine and he plans to put mental health at the centre of his copy.
King Charles edited the magazine twice while heir to the throne. In 2013, he oversaw a special copy marking his 65th birthday. He enjoyed it so much, he returned in 2018 with another royal edition to celebrate his 70th birthday.
In fact, several members of the royal family have taken the reins, briefly, at the magazine which focuses on all aspects of life in the countryside and which has long had a particular focus on farming and the economy around it.
The Princess Royal guest edited an edition in 2020 when she turned 70. And in 2022, to mark her own 75th birthday, Queen Camilla took charge for a one off magazine.
In fact, Prince William has The Queen to beat when it comes to being a guest editor. The copy masterminded by Queen Camilla remains the best ever selling edition of Country Life.
The prince might be able to call on some of the support that The Queen had for her special version. Queen Camilla asked Catherine, now Princess of Wales, to take the photo that graced the cover of the magazine, helping to turn it into a best seller.
It’s not yet known whether Prince William will follow suit and ask his wife to capture him for the front of the magazine, which is due to be published on November 11.
As his role as guest editor was announced, Country Life shared a special image of Prince William taken by Andrew Parsons when the heir to the throne visited Corsten Fields Farm Vineyard near Bath in the Duchy of Cornwall in May this year.
The Editor in Chief of Country Life, Mark Hedges, said ”I’m completely thrilled that The Prince of Wales has agreed to edit a very special issue of Country Life,. Having met with him last week to discuss his plans for his edition, I was struck by what a passionate countryman he is and how much he cares about the welfare of those who manage it. I believe that HRH’s views, concerns and hopes for its future will resonate deeply with our readers and I am excited to see how his energy and commitment to changing rural lives will be reflected in his curated edition.”
The magazine will look at improving access to mental health services for those who live and work in the countryside. And Prince William will also reveal his rural champions in the guest edition.
No guest editor gets away with not sharing some of their own ideas. As well as writing an editorial for the magazine, Prince William will also be sharing his favourite painting, his most cherished view and the recipe he loves to cook.
The edition overseen by Prince William, The Prince of Wales will be published in the UK on November 11 2026.
