Queen Elizabeth Funds Prince Edward and Sophie’s Expenses Entirely From Her Privy Purse

With millions of taxpayers watching their every move, members of the British royal family are always careful about how they spend the funds coming from public coffers. But public scrutiny in this area should not be a concern for Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as their expenses are shouldered by funds from Queen Elizabeth II’s own Privy Purse.

Actually, Prince Edward, along with his two siblings Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, as well as the Dowager Duchess of Gloucester, has long been operating independently of taxpayers’ money. Queen Elizabeth II removed the royals’ names from the Civil List way back in 1992.

Of course Edward and Sophie still use money from the Sovereign Grant for royal duties, including the work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. However, their day-to-day expenses, as well as those incurred from running their household, don’t come from the grant. Instead, they get their funding from the Privy Purse, which also comes from the earnings of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Duchy of Lancaster, a portfolio of real estate holdings estimated to be around 45,600 acres in total, is an independent source of income for Her Majesty, apart from the Sovereign Grant. The duchy’s assets are valued at around £534 million and earned over £20 million last year.

Before becoming working royals, both Edward and Sophie had their own private careers. The Countess of Wessex formed a PR firm, while Edward ran his own TV production firm, Ardent. Unfortunately, both royals later ran into some problems with their respective careers, resulting in Sophie’s resignation, as well as Edward folding up shop.

Bagshot Park, Edward and Sophie’s residence, reportedly costs £250,000 annually to maintain. However, the amount is shouldered by Her Majesty’s Privy Purse.

Experts believe that the Queen shouldering the costs of running Edward and Sophie’s household is money well spent as the two royals are very hardworking. “Sophie and Edward Wessex are seen as among the most dependable and hard-working members of the Royal Family,” Richard Fitzwilliams told Expess.

“They are not funded by the taxpayer save for travel for official duties and security, but by the Queen's private income from the Duchy of Lancaster,” the royal expert added. “They are highly regarded. Since they became full-time working royals, they have avoided controversy.”