New grandfather Prince Charles shows his paternal side as he meets the youngest resident of an affordable housing development before planting a tree during an official visit to Dorset
- Prince Charles visited residents at an affordable housing development in Dorset
- Charles, who has just become a grandfather for the fourth time, beamed at baby
- The royal, 70, was pictured planting a tree as he took a look around community
Prince Charles looked delighted as he met one of the youngest residents living on an affordable housing development in Dorset today.
Charles, 70, who has helped create the new community 'Poundbury' on the fringes of Dorset - which mixes private and affordable housing mix with places of work and services - was seen chatting with homeowners in nearby Powerstock.
Dressed in a checked grey suit adorned with a flower, Charles smiled warmly as he chatted with a mother holding her young baby.
After taking a walk around the development, Charles planted a tree to pay tribute to the scheme.
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Prince Charles looked delighted as he met one of the youngest residents living on an affordable housing development in Dorset today
Charles' warm display comes just weeks after his son Prince Harry welcomed his first child with wife Meghan.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced Archie to the family at the beginning of the month, making Charles a grandfather for the fourth time.
Harry's older brother, Prince William, is father to George, 5, Charlotte, 4, Louis, 1, with wife Kate.
Dressed in a checked grey suit adorned with a flower, Charles smiled warmly as he chatted with a mother holding her young baby
After taking a walk around the development, Charles planted a tree to pay tribute to the scheme
Prince Charles' visit comes as the Duchy of Cornwall has launched a crackdown on homeowners making unauthorised alterations to their properties in his designer village.
Officials in Poundbury, Dorset, want to check that changes like extensions previously agreed by the Duchy office are not getting out of hand.
They are inspecting homes armed with clipboards and cameras to establish the works are in harmony with Prince Charles' original designs for Poundbury.
A letter sent to residents reveals the audit will be carried out by a commercial building surveyor over the coming weeks.
However, the possible sanctions for those properties which have carried out unauthorised works are not disclosed.
It reads: 'For some time now the Duchy have been aware of unauthorised works undertaken on Poundbury which other residents on Poundbury naturally assume, because of the stipulations, has received Duchy approval.
Charles, 70, who has helped create the new community 'Poundbury' on the fringes of Dorset, which mixes private and affordable housing mix with places of work and services, was seen chatting with homeowners in nearby Powerstock
The Prince of Wales leaves a house during his visit to Powerstock Affordable Housing Development, Forge Orchard, Powerstoc
'As the extent of this unauthorised work grows the Duchy find it harder to control those works that they are asked to approve as the people asking for the approval then make reference to unauthorised works of the same or similar to what they are proposing.
'In fairness to all and in order to take firm control of the situation the Duchy has decided to carry out a full audit of all works that have taken place on Poundbury buildings whether granted approval or not.
'The results of this audit will then inform future decisions made by the Duchy on alteration work.
'The photographic record is purely to establish the extent of works undertaken that are not in harmony with the spirit of the original design guide which has prevailed on Poundbury since the development began.'
Prince Charles has created Poundbury as a utopian idyll where private and affordable housing mix with boutique shops, places of work and services like the local school and medical centre within walking distance.
Charles is pictured meeting with residents, members of the housing association and landowners
People wait to see the Prince of Wales during his visit to Powerstock Affordable Housing Development, Forge Orchard,
The Prince of Wales talks with an artisit during his visit to the Duchy of Cornwall office in Poundbury in Dorchester
The Prince of Wales (centre) walks to the Duchy of Cornwall office in Poundbury in Dorchester
Using a design created by master planner Leon Krier, the Duchy of Cornwall began construction on Poundbury in 1993. It is due for completion in 2025 when it will have a population of around 5,000 people in 2,500 homes.
Residents must sign an agreement when buying a property there on the development agreeing not to make alterations without the Duchy's permission.
On its website the Duchy says: 'The architecture of Poundbury is unashamedly traditional and reflects the local style, but it is not a village; it is an urban extension to Dorchester.'
A Duchy of Cornwall spokesperson said: 'A survey is currently being undertaken by the Duchy of Cornwall to identify changes made to Poundbury over the development's 25 year history.
'This will enable Duchy staff to work with the community in Poundbury to maintain the development's ethos on architecture and urban planning, for the benefit of both current and future owners and residents.'
Charles talks with an artisit during his visit to the Duchy of Cornwall office in Poundbury in Dorchester
The Prince of Wales receives a boomerang repurposed bag by Austin Biddle, eight, during his visit to the Duchy of Cornwall office in Poundbury in Dorchester,
Charles shares a joke with sculptor Angelika Seik during his visit to the Duchy of Cornwall office
The Prince of Wales (second left) walks to the Duchy of Cornwall office in Poundbury in Dorchester, Dorset, to view an exhibition, including one of his own watercolours, as part of the Open for Art project
