Queen Elizabeth might have 70 years on the same job, and certainly being a monarch is not easy nor cheap. With all the castles and palaces she has to keep, the security, a certain way of living, travels, and the financial support she gives to her family, she needs lots of money.
But, have you ever wondered how is that the Queen makes money? Well, it turns out that her income is divided into different categories, some of it comes from public resources but, believe it or not, most of her fortune comes through her own businesses, leases, and inheritances.
This is how the Queen and most of the royal family make their fortunes.
Public money
Each year, the Queen is given a single payment by the government. This is called the Sovereign Grant and it is funded with profits of the Crown Estate (each property the Crown owns) and taxpayers money.
According to public records, in 2021 the Queen received £85.9, the equivalent of £1.29 per person in the UK.
This money is used by the Queen and other royal family members to pay for official royal duties that include royal staff wages and travels.
The Sovereign Grant is also used to cover the upkeep of the occupied royal residences such as Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, or Windsor Castle.
A privy purse
In addition to receiving the Sovereign Grant, the Queen also gets a private income from a very specific private estate: the Duchy of Lancaster.
This money is passed down from monarch to monarch and is the result of the profits of over 18,000 hectares of land that includes areas like Lancashire, Yorkshire, and a property in central London.
Estates
The Queen personally owns two of the most famous royal properties: Sandringham and the Balmoral Castle which represents assets in the monarch’s fortune.
Personal businesses
As a horse lover, the Queen possesses more than 90 purebred horses that every year compete at the Royal Ascot, making her add a couple of pounds to her bank account.
But entrepreneurship is not only an Elizabeth trait. Prince Charles has his own business: a bed & breakfast at Mey Castle in Scotland. According to reports, a room costs 200 dollars per night.
Inheritances
Just like Prince William and Prince Harry got money that Lady Diana left them, Queen Elizabeth has great inheritances, just like Balmoral Castle.