Royal families make money from public funding, inherited land and property, private estates, businesses, oil and natural gas, and books. In Britain, the Sovereign Grant plus the Duchy of Lancaster’s roughly £24 million of private income are the main pillars as of 2025 to 2026. Here are 15 ways royal families make money.
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How does the British royal family get its money?
| Source | What it is | Key figure |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign Grant | Public funding for official duties | Indexed to Crown Estate profits; up £45 million for 2025 to 2026 |
| Duchy of Lancaster | Private income of the monarch | About £24 million net income, 2024 to 2025 |
| Duchy of Cornwall | Income of the heir | About 135,000 acres |
| Crown Estate | Profits go to the Treasury | £312.7 million net revenue profit, 2021 to 2022 |
15 ways royal families make money
1. You, the taxpayer
Royal families in places such as Japan, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Morocco, Monaco and Spain draw part of their income from public funds. In Britain, the Sovereign Grant is paid annually by the Treasury and indexed to a percentage of Crown Estate revenues. It was initially set at 15%.
In July 2024 it was announced that Crown Estate profits, boosted by offshore wind projects, would raise the grant by £45 million for 2025 to 2026. The Keeper of the Privy Purse said the money would complete the Buckingham Palace renovation, and that a reduction in the absolute amount would be sought in the 2026 to 2027 review.
2. The Crown Estate (which the monarch does not keep)
Many people think the monarch pockets the Crown Estate. In fact, its profits go to the Treasury. In 2021 to 2022, the Crown Estate was valued at £15.6 billion and made a £312.7 million net revenue profit, which was paid to the UK government.
The link to royal income is the Sovereign Grant formula described above. That is why offshore wind, not rent from Regent Street, has been driving recent increases.
3. The Duchy of Lancaster and the Privy Purse
The monarch’s private income comes mostly from the Duchy of Lancaster, an estate of about 46,000 acres held in trust for the sovereign since 1399. The Privy Purse amounted to about £24 million in net income for 2024 to 2025, and the duchy was valued at £678.7 million.
The King uses the larger part of this income to meet official expenses incurred by other members of the royal family.
4. The Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is the other royal duchy and belongs to the eldest son of the monarch, now Prince William. It holds about 135,000 acres of land in England, and half of the estate is on Dartmoor in Devon.
The government treats the duchy as a Crown body exempt from corporation tax, but William, like Charles before him, voluntarily pays income tax on the surplus. In 2026 it was reported that he paid £8.34 million in tax for 2023 to 2024.
5. Private property
Property generates a lot of income for royal families around the world. In Britain, Buckingham Palace belongs to the Crown and cannot be sold by the monarch. Balmoral, on the other hand, is private property and was bought privately by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, so no revenue from the estate goes to the public purse.
The late Queen Elizabeth II (net worth profile) kept her personal properties, such as Balmoral and Sandringham, separate from the Crown’s property.
6. Regular jobs
Many royals have regular working lives. The late Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau worked as a banker. Princess Eugenie joined the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in 2015 and became a director in 2017. Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece founded a clothing line, and Prince Joachim of Denmark is a farmer.
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7. Owning profitable businesses
Some royals run companies. The Liechtenstein Princely Family has controlled the private bank LGT Group for over 90 years. As of 31 December 2025, LGT managed CHF 386.1 billion in assets for private individuals and institutions.
Talking about businesses may have made you want to start your own. For motivation, check out 15 Successful Businesses That Started With No Money.
8. Oil and gas
Several royal families in the Gulf and Southeast Asia derive their wealth from oil and natural gas. Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world, with his wealth tied to hydrocarbon exports.
Abu Dhabi’s ruling family also draws its fortune from oil. In these monarchies, the line between the state’s revenue and the ruling family’s finances is much less defined than in Britain.
9. Inheritance
Many royals receive an inheritance, and it can be the basis of their income. Sweden’s court finance chief has explained that the royal family’s fortune consists of inherited shares and bonds that generate dividends and capital gains.
If that money is invested well, it generates interest and returns for the next generation too.
10. Land ownership
Our video 15 Business Lessons from The Sopranos quotes the line “Buy land, because God isn’t making any more of it.” When you are royalty, you often inherit land instead of buying it.
The Monaco royal family and the Crown Estate are examples of land-rich institutions, though the Crown Estate is run for the public.
11. Military service
Many royals have served in the military. Prince Albert II of Monaco trained aboard the French Navy helicopter cruiser Jeanne d’Arc in 1981 and 1982, and holds the reserve rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Military pay is rarely a major source of royal wealth, but the training and public service enhance a royal’s public standing and brand.
12. Spending carefully
It is not one size fits all when it comes to blue-blooded spending. The Norwegian royal family is often described as one of the more modest in Europe, and is regularly seen in public settings.
Keeping costs down is a way of protecting the public support that funds a monarchy.
13. Writing books
We are not sure how much income royal authors earn, but many have published. Queen Rania of Jordan has written three children’s books: The Sandwich Swap, The King’s Gift and Eternal Beauty. King Abdullah II of Jordan wrote Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril, which you can hear for free at alux.com/freebook.
Others, including Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco, who wrote a philosophy book in French, and Marie-Chantal of Greece, who wrote a children’s book on manners, have added their own titles.
14. Wealth before marriage
It was not a rags-to-riches story for Kate Middleton, who came from a successful business family. Her parents ran the party supply business Party Pieces.
Others also brought their own careers and savings to a marriage. Money that is invested well also generates income over time.
15. Tourism and branded items
If you have visited England, you may have been to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Tower of London, and bought a postcard, a magnet or a stuffed toy while there. Since 1993 the Royal Collection has been funded by entrance fees to Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
Visitors and gift shops contribute to the upkeep of the royal collection rather than the monarch’s personal income, but they are part of how the royal institution pays its way.
Aluxers, what other ways do you know of that royal families make money? We would love your input in the comments below.
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Keep reading
- Queen Elizabeth II net worth: the late monarch’s wealth profile.
- Sultan of Brunei net worth: the oil-rich side of royal wealth.
- Kate Middleton net worth: the Party Pieces story.
FAQ
How does the British royal family make money?
Mainly through the Sovereign Grant (public funding indexed to Crown Estate profits), private income from the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall, and personal estates such as Balmoral.
Does the King own the Crown Estate?
No. Its profits go to the Treasury, and the monarch receives the Sovereign Grant in return. In 2021 to 2022 the estate made a £312.7 million net revenue profit.
How much does the Duchy of Lancaster earn?
About £24 million in net income for 2024 to 2025, and the duchy was valued at £678.7 million.
Does Prince William pay tax on the Duchy of Cornwall?
He voluntarily pays income tax on the surplus. It was reported in 2026 that he paid £8.34 million in tax for 2023 to 2024.
Which royal families make money from oil?
Brunei’s sultan and Abu Dhabi’s ruling family are well-known examples, with their wealth tied to oil and natural gas.
Do royals have regular jobs?
Some do. Princess Eugenie is a director at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth, and Prince Joachim of Denmark is a farmer.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this article we used published royal accounts, estate valuations and public filings. We dropped older net worth figures we could not support.
Last updated: October 2026.
