THE Duchess of Cornwall’s childhood home remains up for sale with the asking price slashed by £100,000.
In August The Argus reported The Laines, a Grade II listed former rectory in Plumpton, was put on the market for £3.25million but the current owners have decided to drop the price.
It is only the second time in 63 years the property has gone on the market. Camilla grew up there but it passed out of her family’s hands nearly 19 years ago.
It is understood to be the home where her father confronted Prince Charles, the future king, on his intentions with Camilla when they were close as youngsters.
The seven-bedroom mansion initially went on the market with Savills around six months ago but the sale is now being handled by Strutt and Parker LLP.
The house has vast Georgian reception rooms, uninterrupted views of the South Downs and a Gothic-style orangery.
In the grounds there is a secret garden, a secluded swimming pool, tennis court, a paddock and even a separate four-bedroom cottage.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s father Major Bruce Shand, his wife Rosalind and children Camilla, Annabel and Mark moved to the estate after the Second World War to be near Sonia Cubitt, Camilla’s grandmother.
Major Shand was a former vice lord lieutenant in East Sussex and master of the South Downs Hunt for 19 years. He lived at The Laines until his wife’s death in 1994 and the property was sold to actor James Wilby – best known for his roles in Maurice, Gosford Park and A Handful Of Dust, and his wife Shana in 1997.
Camilla has spoken fondly of the home, once describing it and her childhood there as “perfect in every way”.
She was baptised at a church in Firle and attended Dumbrells School aged four-and-a-half – an institution infamous for its strict regime and early morning ice baths.
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