How Kate Middleton & Prince William became billionaires – and their fortune eclipses Meghan Markle & Harry’s mere £30m
SINCE stepping back as senior royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been able to earn their own money through book sales and brand deals.
Their various ventures have helped the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to be worth around £30million – however, this is eclipsed by Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wealth.
Currently the Prince of Wales is the richest member of the Royal Family with a net worth of around a staggering £1.05billion.
The heir-to-the-throne even beats his dad King Charles III, who is worth £900million, and it’s all thanks to what he was given when he became monarch.
Prince William became a billionaire when he took control of the 687-year-old Duchy of Cornwall estate from his dad following the Queen’s death.
Much of the estate comprises farmland, but it also includes homes and commercial properties, forests, rivers, coastline and around a third of the Dartmoor national park, which was once used for mining minerals such as tin and copper.
Prince William was already wealthy after inheriting £10million from his mum Princess Diana and £7million from the Queen Mother, who died in 2002.
Royal editor Ingrid Seward told Fabulous: “As working members of the royal family William and Kate have all their official expenses paid for by the sovereign grant including clothes for foreign visits.
“But even the vast private portfolio properties and investments which net the Duchy over £25 million a year apparently only leave poor Wills £6million after tax to play with.
“I think he can survive on that.”
Most of Harry and Meghan’s wealth comes from the Duke of Sussex’s inheritance from his late mother, who passed away in 1997.
The inheritance had grown to £10million by his 25th birthday, and after Meghan and Harry stepped back as senior working royals, they were free to support themselves independently.
The couple has also made commercial income from a now-defunct £18million deal with Spotify, as well as a deal with Netflix.
In addition to this, Prince Harry is said to have received a hefty sum for his bombshell Spare memoir.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had some large expenses, since quitting royal life, including buying their nine-bedroom, £12million mansion in Montecito, California.
Ingrid added: “Their Californian house is mortgaged and their expenses, by the time they have taken into account the security which follows them everywhere, are huge.
Prince William's £1billion Duchy of Cornwall property portfolio
AFTER the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal family underwent a huge shake-up as the line of succession shifted.
Along with senior members taking on new titles, the royals £1 billion property portfolio also changed hands, from Charles to William.
The inheritance has made the new Prince of Wales the biggest private landowner in Britain – owning land across 20 counties in England and Wales.
Much of the estate comprises farmland, but it also includes homes and commercial properties, forests, rivers, coastline and around a third of the Dartmoor national park, which was once used for mining minerals such as tin and copper.
According to royal rules and regulations, the eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits possession of the duchy and title of ‘Duke of Cornwall’ at birth or when his parent succeeds to the throne.
However, they must not sell assets for personal benefit.
The revenue from his estate is used to fund the public, private and charitable activities of The Duke and his immediate family.
“They also have to pay American tax on both their incomes.
“When they broker a deal with networks or publishers, they are not paid the whole amount up front.
“Harry and Meghan employ and pay for a large number of people to keep their meagre show on the road including an English PR man, who travelled with them on their recent Nigerian trip.
“They are not on the poverty line, but compared to the Prince and Princess of Wales they are paupers.”
This comes as the couple’s Archewell Foundation has reportedly been declared delinquent and ordered to stop raising money.
This is said to be a result of the Sussexes’ charity failing to submit records – and pay a bill.
The Telegraph reported Archewell had been slapped with a delinquency notice and banned from raising or spending money until it pays the fees.
They [Meghan and Harry] are not on the poverty line, but compared to the Prince and Princess of Wales they are paupers
Ingrid Seward
It’s alleged the charity did not file its 2022 tax return or related costs on time.
The couple reportedly filed the docs and the cheque was sent, but it never arrived.
The Sussexes’ team was apparently not aware the cheque had been lost until it received the notice, dated May 3.
Harry and Meghan have been in Nigeria – with the duchess making a sweet nod to Lilibet on Mother’s Day.
They unveiled a partnership between Archewell and non-profit Giants of Africa, which aims to empower young people through sport.
