IT MAY be the property search of the year — finding a house fit for a king in Wales. After years of speculation it seems that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are ready to acquire a property in the principality.

The decision may be linked to the establishment of the Welsh Assembly and perhaps a feeling that the Prince should have a more permanent base over the border.

Perhaps there is a feeling too within the Royal Family that Prince William should become better acquainted with Welsh people and places. Certainly if he decides in the end to join the Welsh Guards he will see more of Pirbright in Surrey than the Brecon Beacons and other wild terrain favoured for military exercises.

The opening of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and its use for leading sporting events and concerts is also attracting more royal visits to Wales. Whatever the reason, there are clear hints that a search for a suitable private property is under way.

Clarence House did nothing to deter speculation that the Prince was searching for a Welsh retreat. A spokewoman said: “The Duchy of Cornwall is always interested in expanding its investments, although no specific property is under consideration at present.”

The Prince has an established link with Wales after learning Welsh for a term at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, just before his investiture at Caernarfon Castle on July 1, 1969. He also still decamps to Wales every July for a series of visits and engagements and has often stayed at Powis Castle, near Welshpool.

He and the Duchess are friends with the Paravicinis, long-standing confidants of the couple, who live near Brecon; many in the Prince’s circle now live in that area, between Builth Wells and Abergavenny.

It is an area that Prince William and Prince Harry know well too, through their friend “Tiggy” Pettifer, formerly Legge-Bourke, whose family owns the Glan Usk estate near Crickhowell. Local people suggest that this estate, although not for sale, could provide an ideal bolt hole. Suggestions, however, that Gliffaes Fach, a secluded farmhouse on the estate, may be on the market, are wide of the mark, though if a tenancy came up it may be a possible retreat. Four bedrooms, however, may be just too small.

It is also possible that the Prince may prefer to head farther into Welsh-speaking Wales towards Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. This is a predominantly farming area as well as home to a burgeoning network of food entrepreneurs. The town is even hoping to market itself as the “Slow Food” capital of Wales, a movement which the Prince champions.

If he wished to lease a property for the fixed period of a year, the National Trust could help. The trust acquired Dinefwr Park and Newton House in the county 20 years ago. The remains of Dinefwr Castle are in the park and this was one of three former royal seats of power in Wales in the 9th century. Newton House is a solid country house, largely 17th century in origin with Victorian additions, and is surrounded by stunning Capability Brown parkland.

Tom Lloyd, an architecture historian and expert on Welsh country houses, said: “The house has a Gothic charm and has the most wonderful plaster ceilings. It could easily work as the house for the Prince for periods if were in residence in Wales, in the same way as Holyrood is used by the royals in Scotland.”

Just three miles away, however, a house called Gelli-aur (Golden Grove) may be an ideal, secure Welsh retreat. The house was designed by Sir Jeffrey Wyattville, reputed to be the favourite architect of George III, for Lord Cawdor. It also stands in wonderful parkland. The house was sold last year for £1.45 million but could now fetch up to £2 million.

If the Prince is looking for a remote hideaway, however, he may be tempted to look at Trawsgoed, near Aberystwyth, which boasts a large painted library considered one of the finest rooms in Wales. It stands in listed gardens with rare trees and the estate includes organic farmland and an organic dairy. The former Edward VIII, the Prince’s great uncle, visited the house in 1924 when the Royal Welsh Show was held at Aberystwyth. Trawsgoed is for sale for £1.5 million through Savills.

The Prince may, however, prefer a private deal with a family wishing to relinquish a property. Among the gems in private hands are Moor Court, Crickhowell, a remarkable house with four drum towers, owned by Leolin Price, QC; Picton Castle, near Haverfordwest, which is owned by a trust, and where the Prince once enjoyed weekends as a student; and Doldowlod, an estate near Rhayader also familiar to the Prince and home of Julian Gibson-Watt, though this may be too close to a main road.

Mr Lloyd said: “Ever since the Prince went to Aberystwyth and learnt Welsh people have hoped he would be identifiable as the Prince of Wales. People would love him to be associated specifically with the country.”

Times recommends

• Second homes: credit crunch casualty or money-spinner?
• How I built my own sliding house
• Top 10 incentives for house buyers