The fact that the British royal family practically floats in wealth is not surprising. As a result of more than a thousand years of power, their pockets were lined.
But you never know how wealthy they really are. The British family only increased in wealth as their power was transferred to the parliamentary government in a world where monarchies are less dominant and rulers are not compensated like CEOs. Learn more about the royal family’s wealth, sources of income, and other details.
According to Forbes, Monarchy PLC, also known as “the Firm,” behaves in a way that is a cross between a public relations firm, a government agency, and the Vatican. The Firm’s umbrella has a cool $28 billion spread out over it.
The Firm manages more than just the incoming funds provided to the royals. It makes sure that everything the royals do is profitable and follows established customs. The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Forbes claims, contributed $1.5 billion to the British economy.
Each time Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles, or Queen Elizabeth embark on a tour, the proceeds from the tour go toward funding the larger machine. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish between the family itself and the Firm when talking about the royal family’s finances.
1. What resources is the royal family in charge of?
The line separating the royal family’s private property from public land set aside for their use, claims Town & Country, is hazy. 263,000 acres of farmland, 12 miles of coastline, and more mansions, castles, and summer homes than most people could ever imagine make up this estate. The estimated US dollar value of these holdings is $17 billion.
When George III exchanged a typical salary for land that could be sold for more money than any income, this arrangement dates back hundreds of years. The royals have less influence now than ever before. However, they continue to receive more than $100 million in tax money annually in addition to other benefits and assets that belong to the state.
It is safe to say that the family is one of the most lucrative government subsidies in history. Add to that more than a thousand years’ worth of mementos, including crown jewels and priceless artwork and artifacts.
2. What is the net worth of the royal family?
The royal family, according to Town & Country, is a $55 billion industry, with a large portion of that going to the family itself. But determining the exact value of the royals is a difficult task.
Queen Elizabeth’s estimated net worth as of 2018 is $530 million. The princely sum of $400 million. Due to the trust funds Princess Diana established for them, inheritances, and their military salaries, both Prince Harry and Prince William are said to have a net worth of about $40 million.
3. How does the royal family generate revenue?
Every year, members of the royal family attend more than 2,000 official engagements. They might be referred to as state-approved philanthropists. Many of their roles involve promoting causes and maintaining the happiness of England’s citizens. And taxpayers’ annual “salary” for them contributes to that.
That’s where all the real money is when it comes to the senior members of the royal family. It is they who receive that pay for their engagements. A definition of a senior member of the royal family is elusive, according to Harper’s Bazaar. The sovereign, their spouse, their direct children, their grandchildren, and the spouses of their immediate family are all collectively referred to as the sovereign, according to historian Marlene Koenig. A senior royal is a member of the family who performs tasks for the crown, to put it another way.
Along with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are the senior working royals. Of course, when Harry and Meghan retired as senior working royals in 2020, they caused a stir.
