The Duke of Sussex celebrated his 40th birthday last week, and while it’s unclear what gifts his family members gave him, there were reports suggesting he might receive a substantial sum from a Trust Fund established by his great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother, in 1994.
The initial report about this Trust Fund was published by The Guardian in April 2002, indicating that both Prince William and Harry were set to inherit £8 million upon turning 40. At that time, the Queen Mother’s estimated wealth was nearly £70 million.
According to the BBC, the funds largely stemmed from wise investments, including valuable artworks, a Fabergé egg collection, china, and jewelry, with most of these assets destined for the Queen as part of the royal collection.
In 1994, she reportedly allocated two-thirds of her estate into a trust for her great-grandchildren, which included not only William and Harry but also Princess Anne’s children Zara and Peter Phillips, Prince Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princess Margaret’s children Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto.
In a recent episode of the podcast “A Right Royal Podcast,” hosts Andrea Caamano, Emmy Griffiths, and Emily Nash discussed Harry’s potential birthday payout with royal author and broadcaster Victoria Murphy.
Victoria expressed her confusion over the story’s origins, stating, “There’s no independently available information about this trust fund. We wouldn’t expect any, as it’s private money belonging to the royals, not public funds.” She further noted, “As the story spread online, it morphed into the idea that he is receiving £8 million, while the original report specified that was a share.”
Additionally, Victoria shared her insights on the royal family’s congratulatory posts for Harry on social media, suggesting that it might indicate thawing relations: “You could interpret this as a sign that some of the animosity from recent years has diminished, and I think that could be true.”
