How is the
The crown estate – a vast portfolio of land and property – belongs to the reigning monarch “in right of the crown”. But it is not their private property. The monarch surrenders the revenue from the estate to the Treasury each year for the benefit of the nation's finances, in exchange for the sovereign grant.
The Sovereign Grant, which is funded by taxpayers, pays for official expenses related to the monarch's duties, which include maintaining properties, travel, and employee pay.
How Much Money Does the British Royal Family Bring in Each Year? Properties in The Crown Estate, which manages the royal family's properties, generate hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of operating income each year.
Much of the royal family's expenses are covered by an annual taxpayer-funded payment known as the Sovereign Grant, which in the 2021-2022 financial year was set at 86.3 million pounds ($108m) – roughly 1.29 pounds ($1.61) for every person in the UK.
We do not pay the Queen any money for her upkeep or even for her duties as Queen of Australia. We do pay a salary to the Governor-General and pay for the upkeep for the official residences.
Where does money for the Sovereign Grant come from? The payment is based on the profits of the Crown Estate, a property business owned by the monarch but run independently. Among its holdings are Regent Street in London and the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire.
The Royals Get Paid Through the Sovereign Grant
The vast majority of this revenue (75 percent) goes to the British Treasury, but the royals get 25 percent of profits that goes into what's known as the Sovereign Grant.
While the average annual cost for UK taxpayers in royal upkeep comes to around £500m a year, Brand Finance estimates the monarchy's brand contributes £2.5bn to the British economy in the same timeframe.
How much does Britain pay the royal family? As with most things royals-related, the answer is complicated. The royal family is paid through a mix of public and private money—that's on top of net worths that include inherited wealth, a significant real estate portfolio, and other assets.
The sovereign grant was set at £86.3m for 2021-22, according to the royal household's annual financial statement, which it said represented £1.29 per person in the UK. Prior to 2017, the Queen received 15% of the crown estate profits from the two previous years, while the remainder was kept by the government.
Royal Inheritance
Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
The intangible value, understood as the present value of the benefits that the Monarchy is expected to bring the UK economy over the years, constitutes the remaining £42 billion. Brand Finance estimates that in 2017 the Monarchy generated a gross uplift of £1.766 billion to the UK economy.
Crown lands comprise around 23 per cent of Australian land, of which the largest single category is vacant land, comprising 12.5 per cent of the land.
If tradition prevails, most of the Queen's personal jewels will be passed on to King Charles III and Queen Camilla. It is speculated that Catherine, Princess of Wales will also receive some of the jewels as she will eventually be Queen.
Popular stories on the Queen:
In 2021, the Crown Estate made a net income of $459.66 million. This is then split up, with 75 per cent going to the UK treasury and 25 per cent to the monarch. The quarter paid to the royals is known as the Sovereign Grant, which funds the upkeep of palaces and expenses of royal duties.
1. The Royal Family of Saudi Arabia. The royal family of Saudi Arabia is the House of Saud and is undoubtedly the wealthiest royal family in the world. The royal family has been ruling the country since 1744 and is worth $1.4 trillion.
Places like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are owned by the monarch of the moment because of their position as king or queen, while other properties, like Balmoral and Sandringham House, are personally owned and not publicly funded.
Pro: boosts national unity
The royal family's official website added that the monarch provides “a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service”.
So what will Prince Harry inherit from Queen Elizabeth? Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
Prince Philip Reportedly Left £30 Million in His Will to “Three Key Staff” Members. Prince Harry is also apparently expected to receive an inheritance. Prince Philip apparently left an extremely generous sum to his closest aides upon his passing in early April.
What is Prince William's Salary? Back when he worked with the Royal Air Force, William earned a salary of $73,000 a year. Nowadays one of his main sources of income is via the Duchy of Cornwall, which made profits of $26 million in 2020 and $24 million in 2021.
How Does Prince Harry Make Money? While Harry was in the Royal Air Force, he made over $45,000 a year, according to a report by Fortune in November 2017. He and Meghan have since launched their Archewell Productions media company and signed a major deal with Netflix in 2020, allowing the pair to have a steady income.
His holdings span from Buckingham Palace—the official headquarters of the monarchy, which Forbes estimates is worth $4.9 billion—to Highgrove House, a country residence in Gloucestershire that Charles first purchased in 1980 for £865,000 ($3.7 million today,) now valued at $39 million.
While the Crown Jewels are considered priceless due to their historic and cultural value, various experts have attempted to unofficially value them, coming up with estimates of between £3 billion and £5 billion. However, no official valuations have been made as the Crown has never considered selling them.