Why Prince Harry Inherited More Money Than Prince William When Their Great-Grandmother Died
It's not because he was her favorite.

The royal family isn’t all just frolicking at weddings in fancy hats and attending super fun public events—there’s serious money involved in every aspect of their lives. Each member is worth a real fortune, and millions upon millions of British pounds are passed down through each generation from inheritance. Take Princes William and Harry for example, who, for their 30th birthdays, were given the humble sum of £10 million ($12.9 million) each, left to them by Princess Diana.
Not only did their late mother make sure that the boys were financially supported as they grew up, but their great grandmother, The Queen Mother, also left a significant amount of her great fortune in the Princes’ names. But the youngest of the two, Prince Harry, is said to have received a greater portion of the Queen Mother’s inheritance than his older brother, Prince William. And no, it’s not just because she played favorites.
Following her death in 2002 at the impressive age of 101, the BBC reported that the Queen Mother had given two-thirds of her entire estate (worth an estimated £70 million or $90.2 million) to a trust fund specifically for her great-grandchildren, which is truly elderly relative goals. Just to make you further wonder why you weren’t born into the British royal family, it was estimated at the time that the princes would share around £14 million ($18 million) between them just from her.
The Queen Mother's reported decision to leave Harry with a bigger portion of the money is thought to be down to logic, regarding their place in the line of succession rather than a secret preference for cheeky redheads. As second-in-line to the throne, William will undoubtedly “benefit financially by becoming king”, according to the BBC, taking over multiple assets and estates as he progresses through the monarchy.
The Queen Mother was simply looking ahead and doing a solid for her youngest great-grandson by compensating for the wealth that poor old Harry will lose out on in comparison to his king brother. Uh, older siblings, am I right?
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Lucy Wood spends most of her time writing about celebrity news, reading books, and waiting for the glorious day that she have enough millions for a pet sloth. She also has a YouTube channel on the go where she pretends to know things about fashion and life advice.
-
Zoë Kravitz Is the Latest New Yorker to Break the Flip-Flop Rule
She makes it look so easy.
-
Who Needs a Blow Dryer? Olivia Palermo's Bob Says No Thanks
Wet hair, don't care.
-
I'm Officially Swapping Baseball Caps for Kendall Jenner's Straw Hat
In true Hollywood form, she's not the only one inspiring me.
-
Why Princess Diana Once "Canceled Lunch" at Kensington Palace to Take Prince William and Prince Harry to McDonald's
A former royal chef revealed the relatable reason Diana took her kids to the popular fast food chain.
-
Why Princess Diana Felt "Let Down Terribly" on Her Wedding Day When Her Mother "Kept Crying"
"She kept...saying that she couldn't cope with the pressure."
-
The "Staggering" Drug Smuggling Shipment Prince William Helped Intercept With the Royal Navy in 2008
William experienced "a lot of excitement and a lot of danger," per a royal expert.
-
How Prince William and Princess Kate Are "Preparing" George, Charlotte, and Louis for "Their Future Roles" Within the Royal Family
"William takes his responsibilities...very seriously," a royal expert explained.
-
I Dressed Like Princess Diana For a Week—and Something Unexpected Happened
Call it the Diana Effect.
-
Princess Diana "Wound Down Her Window" and Gave a Bride Some Brutal Advice After Her Divorce From Prince Charles
Someone track this couple down ASAP.
-
Prince William and Prince Harry Could Be "Tempted" to Secretly Bid on Their Mother's Outfits in New Auction
Who could blame them?
-
The Unexpected Attribute Kate Middleton Has Been "Teased" About by Other Members of the Royal Family
It turns out she takes after The King.