Prince Charles has opted against renewing the lease on his 'Duchy Originals' farm in The Cotswolds where he has overseen pioneering agricultural techniques for decades, it has been claimed.
According to reports, the prince, 71, is unwilling to sign a 20-year lease at the Duchy Home Farm estate because it would likely coincide with him becoming king.
Instead, he plans to turn his attentions on transforming Sandringham into the UK's biggest organic sheep farm - having taken it over from Prince Philip last year.
Charles famously converted the 900 acre estate in High Grove, Gloucestershire to organic farming in 1986, despite criticism from British farmers.
But, while his shunning of modern techniques was initially mocked, in the years since many other farmers have followed suit, even making visits to learn more about Home Farm's biodynamic methods.
These include planting seeds according to the lunar cycle and using homeopathic potions on plant leaves.
Charles, who launched the Waitrose brand Duchy Originals in 1992, has previously criticised supermarkets for putting the squeeze on farmers.
In recent years he has warned tumbling prices and rising costs are putting huge pressure on the country’s small-scale farmers.
Whole communities will suffer if they go out of business, and the variety of food on offer will shrink, he has said.
“Those of us who care enough about the grave situation facing our farmers and rural communities really can help by buying British food whenever we can," he said in 2015.
An insider told The Sun : "It will be a wrench to give up Home Farm but the prince will continue to farm organically at Sandringham."
The tenancy is set to be signed over in April, though a successor has yet to be announced.
