It was purchased in 1980 by the then Prince Charles from Maurice Macmillan, son of the former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. During his first marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, the family would spend weekends in Gloucestershire with Princes William and Harry, before returning to Kensington Palace.

In 2024, King Charles III sold his residence, having owned it for 44 years. What is _at first glance surprising_ is that the new owner of the royal estate is Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine.

Charles has been an outspoken supporter of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. In February 2023, The King held an audience with Volodymyr Zelensky at Buckingham Palace. Charles III issued a strongly-worded message of support for Ukraine, in a statement marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion in February 2024. The unusually direct message seems to be a rallying call to keep up international assistance for Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine has been close to the King's heart. It may explain the nature of an unusual sale of the King's property to Volodymyr Zelensky – whom Charles III probably sees as a defender of democracy.

Although there is no official statement from Buckingham Palace on the Highgrove house sale yet, there are many details that indicate the sale was completed in late February – early March of 2024.

Grant Harrold, the King's former butler, who worked for Charles III at Highgrove from 2004 to 2011, believes the final details of the deal were negotiated during Mrs Zelenska's visit to the UK on 29th February. He mentioned, "Prince William could have gifted the house to his father. So, the King was within his rights to sell the property." Prince William inherited Highgrove House after Charles assumed his new role as Britain's reigning monarch.