The British Royal Family, led by the Queen, may be the best known in the world. But is her Majesty the richest in Europe?
Of the active monarchies left in Europe, some are independently wealthy whilst others receive grants and living expenses from their governments.
The top ten richest European royals are listed below, ranked by what they receive from the states they preside over.
10 – Prince Hans-Adam II, Liechtenstein £200,000 tax free
The Prince accepts an expense allowance of 250,000 Swiss francs tax free. The Princely House of Liechtenstein gets its wealth from its privately owned bank, LT Group. It also makes investments thought the Prince of Liechtenstein estate, which oversees assets including real estate, a forest, and a winery. Forbes estimated the family had a private wealth of £3.8billion in 2008.
9 – King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Spain £7million
The Spanish crown receives a lump sum from the state, amounting to €7.8million in 2014 & 2015. The King received a monthly allowance from this amounting to €211,124. Queen Letizia received €116,112.
Spain’s National Heritage group manages the country’s eight royal palaces, five royal county residences and ten monasteries and convents founded by the crown.
8 – Grand Duke Henri, Luxembourg £9million plus allowance
The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg has been granted 300,000 gold francs every year since 1948 to carry out royal duties. The 2017 budget also allows €10.1million for the Grand Duke’s household costs.
The ownership, administration, control and income of the private fortune of the Grand Duke’s House belong exclusively to the holder of the crown.
7 – Queen Margrethe II, Denmark £9.6million
The Danish Civil List grants the royal family £9.6million for the year which is then divided up between them.
The money covers the cost of the Queen’s activities and the royal household’s operations as well as some more private expenses. Some of the royal palaces are privately owned by the royal family, while others are the property of the state.
6 – King Philippe, Belgium £10.4million
The Belgian Civil List covers the King’s expenditure and was set at €11.6million annually in 2013. A variety of additional support services are financed by the government on top of this.
Belgian royal properties are owned either by the State or by The Royal Trust. The Trust properties can never be sold. The Trust is an autonomous public institution and is financially independent.
5 – King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden £11.8million
Sweden allocated approximately £6million in 2015 to the Swedish crown to cover the King’s official duties and the royal household’s expenses.
Separately, the Palace Administration, which looks after the palaces and the royal art collections, was allocated £5.8 million, but also generates revenue from visitors to the palaces.
The family’s private finances include Solliden Palace, which is open to the public, and Stenhammer, which they lease from the state. The King’s personal fortune has been estimated at £54million, according to Royal Central.
4 – King Harald V, Norway £25.8million
The Norwegian government allocated £23.8million to the royal house plus an additional £1.1million to the King and Queen to cover personal expenses, and £900,000 for the Crown Prince and Princess.
The Royal Residences are owned by the state and are open to the public, but are at the disposal of the royal family. The King owns the royal yacht, although it is manned and maintained by the Royal Norwegian Navy.
3 – King Willem-Alexander, Netherlands £35.8million
In 2015 the budget for the King of the Netherlands was €40.1million, which covers the cost of official visits and overseas tours. It also included money for his wife and the former Queen, who abdicated after reigning for 33 years. In 2007, Forbes estimated the former Queen’s wealth to be around £230 million.
The King has a personal fortune from real estate, investment and a stake in Shell Oil.
2 – Prince Albert II, Monaco £39million
Monaco spent €43.5million on their royal family in 2015, up from €35.7million in 2013. It is not publicly known how this money is divided up into salary and running costs.
Forbes estimated that the House of Grimaldi, Monaco’s royal family, were worth $1 billion in 2010. This is made up of land and palaces, as well as art, antique cars, shares in the Société des Bains de Mer resort and a rare stamp collection.
1 – Queen Elizabeth II, UK £42.8million
In 2016-2017, the Sovereign Grant, which is calculated as a percentage of Crown Estate profits, was £42.8million. The Queen also received £14.9million generated from sources including property rental. The Queen’s net worth has long been a source of speculation.
Discussing the cost of the Sovereign Grant, Sir Alan Reid, the keeper of the privy purse, said: “In 2016-17 the Sovereign Grant equated to a cost of 65p per person in the United Kingdom – the price of a first-class stamp.”
The Crown Estate, which includes Buckingham Palace and the crown jewels, is not considered the Queen’s personal property, but belongs to the British state. However, the Queen does own her residences at Balmoral Castle and Sandringham Palace. In 2011, Forbes estimated the British royal family’s net worth to be £383 million, made up of property, art, and investments.