1,150 years old: The British monarchy’s long history of royal wealth

The British monarchy traces its roots back more than 1,150 years, to when Alfred the Great became king in 866. Today it ranks as the fifth-richest royal family in the world, with King Charles III listed as the 11th richest royal globally, according to a report by Global Banking & Finance Review.

The king receives money through several channels to fund his official work as head of state, his personal expenditure and the royal duties of his family. The main government payment is the Sovereign Grant, calculated as 12% of Crown Estate profits, which totalled £132.1 million in 2025/26.

He also receives income from the Duchy of Lancaster, an estate dating to 1399 with net assets of £687.3 million, which funds his private homes and the incomes of working royals barred from outside earnings. Separately, the Duchy of Cornwall, created in 1337, provides income for the heir to the throne, currently Prince William.

Charles also holds personal undisclosed assets and income from his private estates, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham. He became the first British monarch to reveal his tax payments, having paid more than £30 million in total since becoming king, despite monarchs having no legal obligation to pay tax.