In a surprising shake-up within the British royal circle, Prince William has reportedly dismissed a key figure from his payroll—someone with close ties to Queen Camilla and King Charles III.
Prince William has reportedly removed Annabel Elliot, Queen Camilla’s sister, from the Duchy of Cornwall’s payroll, surprising netizens. According to The Telegraph on July 24, Annabel has been the estate’s interior designer since 2005, working under King Charles III’s direction on various royal properties.
A netizen’s comment on Prince William’s move to remove Annabel Elliot from the payroll, posted in July 2024 | Source: Facebook/peoplemag
The 75-year-old interior designer’s departure comes as William begins to shape the estate’s management in his way. The latest Duchy accounts show she wasn’t paid for her services in 2023-2024, marking the end of nearly two decades of work.
Queen Camilla and Annabel Elliot at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
The report repeated a statement from the Duchy’s 2024 annual report, which covered Charles’s last six months managing the estate and William’s first six months after inheriting it following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
The statement read, “During the period to 8th September 2022 the Duchy paid Mrs Annabel Elliot, the 24th Duke of Cornwall’s sister-in-law, in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis £19,625 (or $25,091.25) for fees and commission and £12,316 ($15746.44) for the purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock for the Duchy of Cornwall Holiday accommodation, Duchy offices and Duchy Nursery. At 31st March 2024 there was £nil (2023: £nil) remaining payable to Mrs Elliot in respect of these [sic].”
The Duchy is a private estate that provides income, and funds the official and private activities of the Duke of Cornwall and his family. This place was established in 1337 by Edward III to support his son, Prince Edward, and is governed by specific charters and laws.
