The luxurious lifestyle of King Charles and Queen Camilla
When King Charles ascended to the throne in September 2022, he inherited a rich and luxurious legacy. But this is no surprise given the British royal family’s status as one of the oldest and richest monarchies in the world. Thanks to the couple’s vast fortune, Charles and Camilla, who have been in a relationship for decades, have access to some of the world’s finest items.
For example, when the couple got engaged in 2005, Charles proposed with a five-carat emerald-cut diamond estimated to be worth more than $280,000. The ring, a family heirloom, was reportedly given to the Queen Mother after the birth of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1926. However, the six-figure sum for the engagement ring is just a drop in the vast ocean of this royal couple’s luxurious life.
King Charles and Camilla’s luxurious life at Buckingham Palace
Every reigning British monarch has traditionally lived in Buckingham Palace, a custom that has been upheld for decades. However, King Charles is breaking with this tradition, as he and Queen Camilla have spent most of their time at Clarence House, their official residence since 2003, according to The Sun.
The reason? Charles reportedly finds Buckingham Palace too boring to live in. However, when King Charles and Queen Camilla do stay at the palace, they can fully enjoy its luxurious amenities. According to the royal family’s official website, Buckingham Palace boasts 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms. Beyond its grand halls and lavish decor, the palace offers unique entertainment and leisure spaces. For example, the royal couple can take a swim in the palace’s secret pool, originally built in 1939 as a surprise for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. Other impressive amenities include a private cinema, a jewellery shop, and a fully staffed doctor’s office.
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He made a lot of money from the Duchy of Cornwall
Upon Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne in February 1952, Charles automatically became the Duke of Cornwall, a title that legally belongs to the monarch’s eldest son. With his new status, Charles gained possession of the Duchy of Cornwall, one of the two royal duchies in England.
Although he had no access to the capital of the duchy, the profits from the estate during his 70 years of holding the title went exclusively to Charles. In his last financial year before becoming king, Charles received a total of £23 million in income from the duchy.
King Charles inherited the Duchy of Lancaster
Although he ceased to hold the title of Duke of Cornwall when he became monarch of the United Kingdom, he received many privileges, one of which was the new title of Duke of Lancaster. On ascending the throne, Charles inherited the title previously held by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, which was reserved for reigning monarchs. Along with the title, Charles also inherited the Duchy of Lancaster, a royal duchy with a net worth of £647.6 million as of March 2024.
He has a real estate empire worth $25 billion
As the reigning king of England, King Charles owns a $25 billion property empire, much of which is controlled by the King’s Fund. According to Forbes, Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the royal family, is valued at $4.9 billion as of 2024. Windsor Castle, another royal family property, has a market value of $743 million. Also in the king’s property portfolio is Kensington Palace, the official residence of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, which is valued at $630 million. Balmoral Castle, a favourite place of the late Queen Elizabeth II (where she passed away peacefully in September 2022), is valued at $118 million.
Camilla inherited thousands of pounds from her parents
Before she married King Charles in 2005, Queen Camilla had a prosperous life. Camilla was born in July 1947 to Major Bruce Shand, an army officer turned successful businessman, and Rosalind Cabit, a British aristocrat. Camilla’s childhood was ‘perfect in every way,’ as she once stated (in an interview with the Daily Mail). Unsurprisingly, the future queen was close to her father and mother.
“We had a marvellous childhood. Unlike many of our generation, we had an incredibly warm, relaxed relationship with our parents,’ she told Vanity Fair.
Thanks to her high-society background, young Camilla received a quality education in three countries: Great Britain, Switzerland and France. Notably, the future Queen grew up in Lines, a seven-bedroom country house in East Sussex. In 1994, following the death of his father, The Laine was put up for sale and was eventually sold to actor James Wilby. However, by 2015, The Laine was back on the market, this time with an estimate of $3.5 million.
Fortunately, Camilla’s wealthy background consisted not only of an excellent education and a luxurious home, but also a sizable inheritance. According to The Independent, Camilla’s maternal grandparents left her an inheritance of £500,000, and while it’s unclear what her personal fortune is, Celebrity Net Worth estimates her current net worth at $5 million.
Camilla has a mansion valued at £850,000
In July 1973, Camilla Parker Bowles married her first husband, Captain Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she had two children: son Tom Parker Bowles and daughter Laura Parker Bowles. After years of marital infidelity on both sides, Camilla and Andrew separated in 1992 and announced their divorce three years later.
‘Throughout our marriage we have always had different interests, but in recent years we have led completely separate lives,’ the couple wrote in a joint statement published in The Sydney Morning Herald. Following her split from Parker Bowles, Camilla purchased Ray Mill House, an £850,000 mansion in Laycock, Wiltshire, which served as her official residence until 2005.
King Charles and Camilla’s designer wardrobe
During his reign as Prince of Wales, King Charles achieved style icon status. So much so that in 2023, Esquire magazine named him the best-dressed member of the royal family since King Charles II. Unsurprisingly, as his style evolved, Charles established himself as a big fan of several high-end fashion brands. Similarly, Queen Camilla has established herself as a style icon, appearing in stunning outfits. As a working member of the royal family, Camilla favoured various popular fashion brands including Bottega Veneta, BVLGARI and Chanel.
King Charles’ luxury car collection
Apart from his many other hobbies, King Charles is an avid lover of luxury cars. According to a report by The Guardian, Charles’ luxury car collection is valued at £6.3 million. Among the cars in his collection is a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 given to him on his 21st birthday by Queen Elizabeth II. The luxury car, worth at least £2 million, was converted to run on bioethanol in 2008 to support Charles’ climate protection efforts.
The couple give and receive very expensive gifts
When you’re the King and Queen of England, you can expect royal treatment even if you’re far from your palace. During a visit to France in 2024, King Charles and Queen Camilla were invited to a sumptuous lobster dinner in the company of President Emmanuel Macron.
The star-studded event, an exotic menu featuring blue lobster and pink almond biscuits, was also attended by British actor Hugh Grant, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba.
According to the BBC, the lavish dinner cost a whopping £400,000. Ahead of his coronation in 2023, it has been revealed that The London Tea Exchange, Britain’s leading tea shop, will present King Charles with a special tea. The company has described the gold-plated tea as the most expensive in the world, valued at £1.4 million.
In an interview with The National, representatives from The London Tea Exchange described their gift as a ‘fragrant blend of herbal and floral notes,’ bringing together ‘the diverse tea drinking traditions around the world. In the same spirit, King Charles does his best when he gives gifts. In 2014, to celebrate Prince George’s first birthday, Charles gave his eldest grandson a Victorian-style ‘shepherd’s hut’ from Dorset-based Plankbridge. It is reported that in July 2024, to celebrate Queen Camilla’s 77th birthday, the King gave her a special piece of jewellery from his late mother’s exquisite collection.
King Charles and Camilla have an impressive jewellery collection
After ascending to the throne, King Charles inherited an impressive crown jewellery collection of over 100 pieces and 23,000 precious stones. Some of the most popular pieces from the crown jewellery collection include Queen Mary’s crown, which was used to crown the monarch’s consort, and the imperial crown, which is often worn by a king or queen during a coronation.
