Princess Anne has made an unusual public statement, issuing a powerful four-word call to action this week as she urged the government and communities to adopt “a coherent national programme” on rural housing.
Princess Anne calls for affordable rural housing in landmark speech
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The Princess Royal, 73, spoke at a conference in London for English Rural, a charity she is patron of, which focused on “Affordable Rural Housing: Opportunity in Changing Times”.
In her direct speech, Anne said: “We aren’t just talking about houses—we’re talking about the people and communities that make our countryside live and breathe.”
She emphasised that affordable rural housing is a crucial foundation for thriving rural communities, echoing the views held by her brother, King Charles, 75, and nephew, Prince William, 41, both vocal advocates for sustainable communities.
Princess Anne’s unprecedented public statement
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Highlighting the urgency and scale of the issue, Anne made her point clear with a concise, impactful statement: “These things are not going to happen quickly. They need patience that’s often hard to come by and loads of partnerships to achieve those lasting results that will continue.”
Anne is not known for making public statements frequently, and this unprecedented move underlines her strong feelings about affordable rural housing.
The importance of logistics in rural housing
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The princess also noted the importance of careful planning, referencing older infrastructures as examples: “We need to supply them better. Logistics are absolutely key to making rural communities work well, and we need to do that better.”
She went further, stressing the wider implications of the issue beyond simple housing: “Those houses allow you to plan for the future. They are the bedrock of sustainable, thriving rural communities—and there is potential for more businesses and to employ more people.”
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Speaking passionately about the essential nature of affordable rural homes, Anne a