How wealthy is the British royal family?
After more than 70 years of reigning over the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, on September 8, 2022, in Scotland.
King Charles III, the first son of Queen Elizabeth II, will now inherit the kingdom, the royal estate, and her personal estate. But what precisely does that entail?
What the British monarch genuinely owns is listed below. When it was feasible, we also included the asset’s value. Some items, like diamonds, have been in the royal family’s possession for so long that they haven’t been valued according to contemporary standards or are so valuable that it is difficult for specialists to estimate their worth.
The Royal Estate
The company that manages all of the British monarch’s possessions, whoever they may be, is known as The Crown Estate, or Monarchy PLC. You wouldn’t believe how little power the royal family actually has over the Crown Estate. An impartial council acting on behalf of the monarchy manages the majority of it.
Technically speaking, the Crown Estate owns the entirety of Wales, Northern Ireland, and England. The Crown Estate Scotland, which is operated as a public company on behalf of the Scottish government, was established as Scotland’s own estate in 2016.
The total asset value of the Crown Estate is $34.3 billion.
Buckingham Palace
The British monarchy’s most iconic residence, Buckingham Palace, is also its most well-known. It was initially constructed in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, was purchased by King George III in 1761, and has since been owned by the royal family.
The British monarch’s executive offices are located here, where the family usually welcomes guests and large audiences. The asset is worth $4.9 billion.
Diamond Koh-i-Noor
The mother of Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, wore this crown. The Koh-i-Noor diamond is set in the headpiece on the side, slightly to the right. One of the biggest cut diamonds ever found is in this stone.
Its precise beginnings are unknown, however the Peacock Chair was first mentioned as a component of it in the Mughal Empire of India in the 1740s. Queen Victoria acquired the Koh-i-Noor diamond for herself after annexing India in the 1840s.
Since India’s declaration of independence in 1947, the governments of Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan have all staked claims to the diamond and asked for its repatriation. However, the British government asserts that it is legally entitled to possess the diamond due to a 176-year-old treaty.
Balmoral Castle
Privately owned housing may be found at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The property, valued at $140 million by Forbes, was bought by Elizabeth II and will now descend to Charles III.
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96, she was residing at this castle.
Engagement ring of Princess Diana
Before she wed the then-Prince Charles, Lady Diana Spencer chose an engagement ring that, because it wasn’t a family heirloom but came from a jeweler’s catalogue, caused some controversy.
The people, however, adored her big sapphire ring, which was rather distinctive at the time and is now a prized possession of the royal family. Prince William used his mother’s engagement diamond to pop the question to Catherine Middleton.
2014 saw experts estimate the ring’s worth at at $500,000.
Duchy of Cornwall
A duchy is a sizable area of territory that a royal family member manages to make money for the monarch.
Edward III created the Duchy of Cornwall in 1337 for his son Edward Prince of Wales, and it has a total area of around 135,000 acres. The Prince of Wales has historically been in charge of overseeing the Duchy of Cornwall.
The Duchy of Cornwall was very prosperous under Charles III, and it brought in $26 million in 2021. The property is worth $1.3 billion in its whole.
Although the duchy is legally free from paying taxes, Charles started doing so voluntarily in 1993 when Parliament started discussing additional levies for the royal family.
Prince William is now in charge of running the duchy.
The wedding gown of Queen Victoria
There are other royal garbs on display in homes around the United Kingdom, but Queen Victoria’s bridal gown is particularly significant. She was among the first royals to wear a white wedding gown, and it started a style that is still in use today. Honiton lace and thick satin silk were used to make the outfit.
In this image, it is shown as part of Kensington Palace’s “A Century of Queens” wedding dress exhibition.
Windsor Castle
William the Conqueror constructed the first Windsor Castle, which is now located outside of London in Berkshire. Since William’s son Henry I assumed control and made it his permanent home in 1100, it has been occupied by the British king. Windsor Castle is now the oldest castle still in use in all of Europe.
Elizabeth II’s principal residence was Windsor Castle, which also served as a haven for the royal family during World War II. It’s worth about $574 million, according to estimates.
Necklace and earrings with coronations
This necklace and these earrings, which feature diamonds from the Koh-i-Noor diamond and the Lahare diamond, were made for Queen Victoria during her reign and are seen here with Queen Mary’s Dorset Bow Broach.
Elizabeth II wore them once again on the day of her coronation. She wore them often for the rest of her life. Their estimated value is $345,000
Painting by Claude Monet
The royal family is renowned for having a huge collection of artwork.
This is Claude Monet’s “Study of Rocks; Creuse: “Le Bloc.” When Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother bought it in 1949 for $2300, its value had risen to almost $17,000 by the time of her death in 2002.
After hanging in Clarence House for a while, the Monet painting is currently on exhibit at Buckingham Palace as part of the Royal Collection Trust.
The Westminster Palace
This might be the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, also known as the impressive clock that holds Big Ben. Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the entire tower, technically.
However, the Crown officially owns the entire structure, which is on loan to the British parliamentary government. The House of Lords and the House of Commons have resided there for centuries, making it one of the most significant London institutions.
Rembrandt artwork
This Rembrandt painting, “Agartha Bas,” is shown by an exhibition coordinator in the Queen’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace. It entered the royal family after being given to George IV by one of his nobles.
Although the exact value of this specific artwork is unclear, Rembrandt originals sometimes get tens of millions of dollars at auction.
Park Hyde
The Crown Estate, like the US National Park Service, owns and operates several parks in addition to royal estates. Hyde Park, which Henry VIII took from the Westminster Abbey and transformed into a hunting area, is one of these open places.
One of London’s most well-known parks is Hyde Park, which has the renowned Speakers’ Corner, an outdoor space where the public is welcome to participate in speeches, rallies, and debates. The value of the entire park is around $22 million.
Bentley State Limousines.
For Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, Bentley created two state limousines, including this one. Each of them is valued about $11 million.
The cabins of the automobiles may be sealed hermetically in gas assaults and are even blast-resistant, while the tyres are strengthened with Kevlar. The monarch can wave at people while standing behind opaque glass panels that can be fitted for privacy.
Fabriano eggs
Peter Carl Fabergé himself initially received this Fabergé egg’s original commission from Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II. It was sent in 1933 to Queen Mary and is now on display at Buckingham Palace.
The Basket of Flowers egg, the Colonnade egg, the Twelve Panel egg, and the Mosaic egg, shown above, are just a few of the 57 Fabergé eggs that are still in existence and are owned by the Royal Collection.
Million-dollar original Fabergé eggs are available.
Park in Greenwich
An old hunting park in London, Greenwich Park has views of the Thames River and the Isle of Dogs. Additionally, it is the site of the Prime Meridian, which serves as the origin of Greenwich Mean Time and establishes time zones throughout the globe.
To maintain its historic significance and boost its biodiversity, the park is now undergoing renovation and restoration.
Honiton baptismal dress
This Honiton lace baptism gown was initially ordered by Queen Victoria for her own daughter, Princess Victoria. It was worn by all royal newborns (the monarch’s immediate offspring, grandkids, and great-grandchildren) up until 2004, when Elizabeth II decided it was too delicate to be worn any more. She ordered a precise duplicate.
The birth of Princess Eugenie’s son, August Brooksbank, in November 2021 marked its final use. Princess Charlotte is shown being held by Catherine, Princess of Wales, in 2015 as she wears the baptism gown.
Greville Earrings with Chandelier
Dame Margaret Greville, an heiress, gave Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother her vast jewellery collection in 1942 as a gift. A pair of chandelier earrings that were handed Queen Elizabeth II on her wedding day in 1947 was one among those items. You can see them here.
The queen had one of her favourite pairs of earrings at the moment, but she had her ears pierced because she wanted to wear them. Throughout her lifetime, she wore them frequently.
Duchy Waitrose Organic
It’s not simply the family’s estates, jewellery, and possessions.
Since the 1980s, King Charles III has had an interest in organic cuisine, and in 1990 he founded a business called Duchy Originals to serve as a market for organic foods produced in the Duchy of Cornwall. He ran this business until stepping away in 2021 to prepare for the throne.
It belongs to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund as a fully owned subsidiary. Prince William will probably now take over as the company’s management.
Waitrose Duchy Organics was created in 2009 thanks to a partnership between Duchy Originals and Waitrose that aimed to boost profitability. The royal family doesn’t actually benefit from it because all of the proceeds are paid back to the Charitable Fund.
Waitrose Duchy Organics recorded a $4.1 million profit in 2021. Their charitable contributions total $35 million since 2009, and recent years have seen an increase in revenues due to rising demand for organic products.
Royal Philatelic Collection.
Since 1840, postage stamps have been used in the UK, and by 1864, the royal family had begun to collect them. In fact, they gathered so many postage stamps that they created an official Royal Philatelic Collection to house them all.
Nearly all significant postal stamps from British history are included in this collection, which is worth hundreds of dollars each stamp.
Adelaide House
The home of choice for Prince William and his family of five was the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, which is situated half a mile from Windsor Castle. In order to be nearer to their children’s schools, they moved in during the summer of 2022. It has a marble fireplace among other decorative elements.
The family intends to return to Windsor Castle after the demise of Elizabeth II. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis’ feeling of stability will be preserved by William and Kate delaying their relocation for a while.
How news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing spread throughout the world.
Attire for a coronation ceremony
This was the ceremonial attire used for George V’s coronation in 1910; when not in use, it is all on display at the Tower of London. Some of these items were anticipated to reappear at Charles III’s coronation.
The Imperial Crown, the St. Edward’s Crown, the Royal Sceptre, the Orb, the Ampulla containing the Oil of Anointing, the Sword of Mercy, the Sword of State, the Sword of Offering, the Sword of Temporal Justice, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, St. Edward’s Staff, three different sceptres, and the Sergeants-at-Arms’ mace are among the items listed.
It is impossible to determine the whole value of these priceless, illustrious, and jewel-filled crowning artefacts.
Tower of London
It used to be a functioning palace, but it isn’t now. Additionally, the land is still owned by the Crown Estate.
Due to its long history, the Tower of London, also known as His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, today serves as a museum and is a designated World Heritage Site.
It is also the most expensive piece of real estate in the UK, with an estimated value of around $81 billion.
Ruby of the Black Prince
Given to Edward of Woodstock, often known as the Black Prince, in the 14th century, the crimson cabochon red spinel that can be seen here on the Imperial State Crown is known as the Black Prince’s Ruby.
Because spinels and rubies were not recognised as separate stones until the 18th century, it is referred to be a “ruby.” The jewel is the biggest uncut spinel in the world, although its value is unknown.
The Lancaster Duchy
The Duchy of Lancaster, which includes 45,550 acres of British territory, is another duchy that the Crown owns in addition to the Duchy of Cornwall.
It isn’t as successful as the Duchy of Cornwall, and Nadhim Zahawi, the second-highest ranked minister behind the Prime Minister, is the official manager of the Duchy of Lancaster. Directly benefiting the sovereign is the money earned.
The land’s estimated valuation is $748 million, and in 2021 it had a net income of roughly $25 million.
Here, King Charles III travels to Morecambe in the English county of Lancashire.
Royal attire
Hundreds of royal family garments are kept at the Royal Collection Trust, which is owned and administered by the Crown Estate in respect of the sovereign monarch.
Caroline de Guitaut, a curator and deputy surveyor for the Royal Collection Trust, is shown here arranging a costume exhibit for holiday décor at Windsor Castle.
These outfits were a part of the family tradition started by the then-Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, who performed pantomimes every Christmas to amuse themselves while camped out at Windsor Castle during World War II.
A diamond tiara
For George IV, this Diamond Diadem was created in 1820. Queen Victoria wore it frequently after having it reset with gems from the royal collection.
This diadem was worn by Queen Elizabeth II during the procession to her coronation in 1953 and thereafter each year during the State Opening of Parliament, which is held whenever a new session of the British Parliament begins.
Steven Stone’s jewellery specialists put its value at around $6.9 million.
Furniture Bellangé
In the 18th and 19th centuries, French furniture manufacturer Pierre-Antoine Bellangé produced complex Gothic and Empire designs for extremely rich clients.
At Buckingham Palace, you may find a lot of artefacts.
Rugs depicting The Story of Abraham
Look at the tapestries on the walls of Hampton Court Palace’s Great Hall. These well-known Flemish pieces show the life and adventures of the biblical prophet Abraham.
Henry VIII ordered a set of “The Story of Abraham” and received it in 1543. They cost £8,260 in 1643, which is equivalent to $1.54 million in modern American dollars.
The Church of England
The British monarchy has been in charge of the Church of England since Henry VIII severed ties with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534, notwithstanding the fact that one cannot actually “own” a particular religious movement.
It is one of the richest religious institutions in the whole world, with a market value of $11.97 billion. The primary religious figurehead is the Archbishop of Canterbury, even if Charles III is the head of the Church of England.
The Holyroodhouse Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse serves as the British monarch’s official home in Scotland.
In addition, the location is home to Mary, Queen of Scots’ famous 16th-century residences, which are accessible to the public unless members of the royal family are there. The estimated value of Holyrood Palace is $63 million.
Michelangelo’s artwork
At least 20 works by renowned artist Michelangelo are included in the Royal Collection, including “The Resurrection,” which was created in 1532.
At auctions, Michelangelo drawings can sell for tens of millions of dollars.
Sandringham Residence
Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, was one of the several private homes held by Queen Elizabeth II. After the queen’s passing on September 8, 2022, locals left flower tributes outside the house’s gates.
Forbes estimates that Sandringham House is worth $65 million.
Primrose Hill and Regent Park
The Royal Parks oversees both Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park because they are next to one another in London.
Known for its sports events, Regent’s Park was initially slated to host a few competitions during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but that plan was revised at the last minute.
Diamond Cullinan
The biggest uncut diamond of gem-quality ever found, the Cullinan diamond was unearthed in South Africa in 1905. After some time, it was given to Edward VII, who had it divided into 19.5 carats of unpolished shards, 90 small stones, and nine big stones.
The Crown Jewels contain two of the big stones, while Elizabeth II possessed the remaining seven. Cullinan I, the biggest stone, is said to be valued up to $400 million. This image shows the late queen donning the Cullinan V Heart Brooch.
Stewart Sapphire
The Stuart Sapphire, which can be seen on the reverse of Queen Elizabeth’s Imperial State Crown in this image, was originally on the front. The sapphire’s provenance is unknown, but it ultimately came into the Stuart family.
When Edward VII acquired the Cullinan II diamond, which is currently in the front, he transferred the 104-carat sapphire to the rear.
Cross on the Sovereign’s Sceptre
The Sovereign’s Sceptre, which was ordered in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II and currently occupies a significant place in the collection of the Crown Jewels, is always used in coronation rituals. Cullinan I, often known as the Great Star of Africa, was added when it underwent redesign in 1910.
In the whole globe, it is the biggest clear-cut diamond.
Palace of Kensington
The residence has used Kensington Palace, which is situated in the London district of Kensington Gardens, ever since the 17th century. Several members of the royal family frequently dwell in the vast area. It is valued an estimated $630 million.
State Rooms of Kensington Palace are overseen by Historic Royal Palaces, a non-profit with no support from the government. These are accessible to everyone. However, the Royal Household is responsible for funding the administrative and residential sections, and there is no public access.
Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci
One of the most well-known artists and polymaths of all time was Leonardo da Vinci, and the British monarchs naturally hold a staggering 600 of his sketches. It is regarded as the world’s greatest collection of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.
This anatomical illustration of the shoulder, arm, and foot bones is part of one of the drawings. It may be viewed in the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace and was inked about 1510–1511.
Imagine what 600 works by the Renaissance master would be worth. In July 2021, a single, little da Vinci sketch sold for $12.2 million.
There is no estate tax on royal family.
Anyone in the UK with an estate worth more than $375 million is subject to a 40% inheritance tax. But the monarchy is an exception.
Queen Elizabeth II was estimated to be worth about $500 million as a private individual, excluding anything controlled by the monarchy itself; all of this now belongs to Charles III.
Castle Hillsborough
Northern Ireland’s sole and official royal residence is Hillsborough Castle. A Irish marquess commissioned its construction in the 18th century. Peace talks typically occur at this residence whenever issues in Northern Ireland arise.
The value of the castle is put at about $92 million.
CE Strathearn and APL Anglesey
Being a part of the royal family, who are perhaps the most well-known public personalities in the world, might make it challenging to protect your image rights, but that hasn’t deterred Prince William and Princess Catherine.
Prince William founded the company APL Anglesey. A comparable one called CE Strathearn was founded by Princess Catherine.
The two will be able to sell official stuff thanks to this, and they will also have the legal authority to prevent others from selling things that could be damaging to their reputation.
Brompton Memorial Park
The Royal Parks is in charge of overseeing The Brompton Cemetery in London, one of the more well-known garden cemeteries in the world. As a result of a Parliamentary Act, it was created in 1839.
On 40 acres of ground, there are more than 205,000 graves and 35,000 monuments.
porcelain Sèvres collection
The royal family has the biggest collection of Sèvres porcelain in the world, including this vase, with more than 500 items in the Royal Collection.
Historically significant Sèvres porcelain often sells for between $4,000 and $8,000, although outstanding pieces can fetch considerably more.
Cottage at Frogmore
When Frogmore Cottage was initially constructed for Queen Charlotte in 1801 under the name Double Garden Cottage. After Queen Victoria dined there and remarked on the “immense quantity of small frogs,” the place’s name was changed to Frogmore in 1875.
The cottage was transformed into a four-bedroom house in 2019 so that Duke Harry and Duchess Meghan could live there full-time.
In November 2020, Princess Eugenie, a cousin of Harry, moved in with her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August.
Raphael’s “The Miraculous Draught of Fishes”
A tapestry by Raphael from around 1515 called “The Miraculous Draught of Fishes” alludes to the two Biblical miracles.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has the picture, which is part of the Royal Collection.
These Raphaels are quite expensive.
Palace of St. James
Henry VIII ordered the construction of St. James’s Palace. He lived at the palace on occasion to get
away from the bustle of court life. Even now, it is still regarded as the Royal Court’s official site.
Both the York House, where Charles III lived in the 1990s with his sons William and Harry, and the
Clarence House, the former residence of the Queen Mother, are part of the palace complex. Charles
and Camilla remained there until their assumption to the throne in September 2022. It is said to be
valued $690 million.
Park in Richmond
The largest Royal Park is Richmond Park. It was created by Charles I in the 17th century and is
currently one of England’s most significant nature reserves.
Along with old trees, beetles, and fungus, it is particularly well-known for its deer population.
Additionally, there is a sizable population of ring-necked parakeets due to escaped captive birds.
There are almost 2,500 acres there.
The papers of Stuart and Cumberland
The Royal Collection includes historical documents and records as part of the Royal Archives in
addition to artwork, furniture, jewels, and costumes.
After Elizabeth I died without leaving any offspring, the Stuart family inherited the throne.
But Catholic-Protestant conflicts characterised a significant portion of their administration.
James II of England, the last catholic British king, was overthrown in 1689.
After then, members of the Stuart family were banished, and letters regarding unsuccessful throne-restoration attempts were despatched. These documents are invaluable to historians.
King’s Lodge
Prince Andrew, who is currently in hot water, resides most often at The Royal Lodge, which is
shown in this photo in front of the property in Berkshire, England, not far from Windsor Castle.
He has resided there with his ex-wife, Duchess Sarah, ever since it underwent refurbishment in 2004.
Although it was initially constructed in 1662, it has subsequently been destroyed and rebuilt several times.
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