This Unexpected Royal is Richer Than The King
The top three people on this list might surprise you.

Despite inheriting a hefty fortune over the years, King Charles finds himself in an unusual position: he's not actually the wealthiest member of his own family. While The King, of course, is worth quite a hefty sum, he ranks as the second wealthiest member of the Royal Family, per a recent financial analysis by the Daily Mail.
It turns out Prince William tops the list, with a 2022 "rich list" published by the Times estimating his fortune at £1.05 billion. This is largely because he took control of the Duchy of Cornwall when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, and, per the Daily Mail, the estate provides him with "around £24million a year" in income. The Duchy is a hereditary estate that was established in 1337 by King Edward III, primarily to provide income for the heir to the British throne.
However, this isn't William's only source of wealth. He inherited roughly £10 million when Princess Diana died and an estimated £7 million from his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, upon her 2002 death.
The King ranks as the second-richest royal, with an estimated worth of £900 million, per the publication. Like William's Duchy of Cornwall, King Charles profits from his own hereditary estate, the Duchy of Lancaster. But he likely inherited hundreds of millions of pounds when Queen Elizabeth died, too; per the Times, the late monarch's fortune "was estimated at £370 million — wealth comprised of property, investments and other assets" such as art, jewelry and "a large stamp collection."
The Prince of Wales is the richest member of the Royal Family.
Princess Anne ranks as third on the royal rich list.
However, the exact amount King Charles inherited from his mother "will almost certainly remain a mystery because a court ruling in 1820 determined that a monarch’s will does not need to be published," the Times reported.
Coming in third on the list is The King's only sister, Princess Anne, with the hard-working royal estimated as worth £50 million thanks to her Gatcombe Park estate. She also receives an income from the sovereign grant since she's a full-time working member of the Royal Family. Like King Charles, the amount of money she inherited upon Queen Elizabeth's death is unknown.
Rounding out the top five richest royals are Prince Michael of Kent at £31.5 million and Princess Margaret's son, David Armstrong-Jones, who "is thought to be worth between £19.7 and £30.7million," according to the Daily Mail. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle snagged number six on the list
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
This year, the Royal Family should become even richer, with news that the sovereign grant will rise by more than $56 million.
Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.
-
First Tory Burch Pierced Her Shoes. Now She's Piercing Bags
The unexpected style is already taking over fashion week.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Princess Kate is Back on the Repeat Outfit Train
The Princess of Wales wore the same outfit during a hospital visit last month.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber Power Lunch in Matching Loafers
The besties showed off their friendship style at New York Fashion Week.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
How King Charles "Terrified" a New Butler With Ghost Stories and a Hidden Mannequin
"I couldn't physically stop screaming."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate are Skipping the 2025 BAFTAs Because of Their Kids
The royals are raising some eyebrows with the last-minute no-show announcement.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Louis and King Charles Look Almost Identical in Photos Taken 73 Years Apart
There's an eerie resemblance between Charles and his grandson in these pictures.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why The King and Queen Invited Stanley Tucci, David Beckham and Helen Mirren to a Glitzy Royal Dinner
Donatella Versace, Victoria Beckham and more famous faces joined the event at Highgrove House.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Opens Up About "The Hardest" Part of Grieving in Emotional Conversation
The Prince of Wales got candid about grief while visiting a charity with ties to his late mother.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles Once Proclaimed This Perk Was "The Only Benefit of Being Prince of Wales"
Aside from the castles, etc.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Made a Heartbreaking Admission About His Childhood to Princess Kate After She Explained a Very Normal Activity
A new royal book reveals a "poignant" interaction between the couple.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate are Careful for Charlotte and Louis Not to Feel Like "Spares"
Royal expert Phil Dampier says the royals see Prince George as "first among equals."
By Kristin Contino Published