King Charles: the properties he is forbidden to sell

Source: Money Review

King Charles inherited $500 million in assets after the death of Queen Elizabeth, but that's only part of his fortune.

The royal family's wealth comes from sources such as a taxpayer-funded grant, a multi-billion dollar real estate portfolio and inherited assets.

The public will learn exactly what Charles inherited from his mother at least 90 years after her death, since, like the wills of other royals before her, the Queen's will has been sealed and locked in a vault for nine decades.

However, a Forbes report on the monarchy's wealth estimated Charles' inheritance from the Queen at assets worth $500 million. But the money doesn't stop there.

As monarch, Charles also takes on foundations that Forbes estimates manage assets worth $42 billion. These include a collection of properties such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, as well as the Duchy of Lancaster, which as of March 2022 was valued at £652.8 million and is owned by a monarch's trust.

Much of Charles' wealth comes from the Sovereign Grant, an annual grant funded by taxpayers.

As Insider reports, in return for the funds from the grant, the royal family gives the profits from the Crown Estate - a large collection of land and property managed by an independent organization - to the fund to benefit the British economy.

The properties that can be used, but not sold

Forbes estimated that Charles' assets included a $9.5 billion property portfolio.

However, the king does not personally own these properties, but they are owned by each monarch for the duration of his reign and are held for all future royals, meaning they cannot actually be sold.

Forbes estimated that Buckingham Palace alone is valued at $4.9 billion.

Clarence House, also in London and home to Charles and Camilla for years, is valued at $72 million.

These are just a few of the ample properties the royal family can enjoy with Charles, almost certainly on Elizabeth's death, being given private collections of art and jewelry, rare stamps and any personal investments she made.

Charles' lucrative talents

Charles has also built up a small fortune as one of the UK's most successful living artists.

The King's paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions and charity events.

Between 1997 and 2006 alone, Charles earned approximately $2.5 million from sales of prints of his watercolor paintings.

Note that these are just a few of the new King of England's sources of income, and it is only logical that some others will forever remain within the confines of the palace. Even so, it is significant that a very large part of the money is used for charity.