Off The Record
Prince William Removes Queen Camilla’s Family From His Payroll, Who Were Previously Employed By King Charles
An unexpected upheaval in the British royal family has apparently resulted from Prince William firing a significant person with close ties to King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Surprising internet users, Prince William allegedly fired Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, from the Duchy of Cornwall. Annabel has been the estate’s interior designer since 2005, working under King Charles III’s supervision on a number of royal homes, according to The Telegraph on July 24.
The departure of the 75-year-old interior designer coincides with William’s attempt to impose his will on the estate’s management. After working for over two decades, she was not compensated for her services in 2023–2024, according to the most recent Duchy accounting.
A line from the Duchy’s 2024 annual report, which covered William’s first six months of inheriting the estate after Queen Elizabeth II’s death and Charles’s final six months of overseeing it, was repeated in the report.
The statement read, “During the period to September 8, 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 gives the Duke of Cornwall and his family income and finances their official and personal endeavors. In order to help his son, Prince Edward, Edward III founded this location in 1337, which is subject to specific charters and rules.
The estate is administered with an emphasis on community benefits and sustainability in order to protect it for future generations. William, the current Duke of Cornwall, pays income tax on the estate’s annual profits but does not have access to the estate’s cash.
In addition to its historical importance, the Duchy provides opulent vacation rentals in historic structures located in Cornwall, Wales, and the Isles of Scilly. These repurposed materials, such as glass bottles for lamp fixtures and old chests for coffee tables, are used in Annabel’s interior design, which combines modern and ancient designs.
The estate uses renewable energy heating systems and green electricity to promote its environmental friendliness. Additionally, it encourages eco-friendly travel that benefits regional economies and communities.
Netizens’ opinions on William’s decision to fire Annabel from the Duchy’s payroll are divided. A commenter wrote, “Charles put her on the payroll; she wouldn’t have been interior designer if it wasn’t for her sister and I’m glad Prince William took her off payroll [sic].”
Not everyone was aware of Annabel’s role, with some expressing surprise. “So he should, didn’t know she was on the payroll,” one netizen said. Another questioned Annabel’s involvement: “Why was she even on it? What does she do exactly?”
Another chimed in, “Camilla’s sister, an interior designer, worked on a contract , the contract is now complete. Annabelle is 75 and is retiring [sic].” A fifth remarked, “Good. She is not his mother or aunt.”
Another noted the generational contrast, quipping, “Makes sense. I’d think an 80-year-old sense of style and a 40 year-old would be severely different. I wouldn’t hire my grandma’s interior designer either. 🤣🤣 [sic]”
Meanwhile, some saw William’s move as a sign of prudence. One user remarked, “Prince William is very wise…” while another expressed skepticism about his intentions, “I think William has a big head now showing his true colour , who else is he going to fire 🔥[sic].”
Another downplayed Annabel’s significance in the royal family, saying, “She is now over retirement age and is obviously assisting her sister in other matters. Her work is done. No shock!, media trouble making yet again.”
Annabel continues to work on royal projects even though the Duchy no longer employs her, such as the most recent Balmoral restorations. But according to reports, her business, Annabel Elliot Limited, has been having financial difficulties lately, as seen by a noticeable drop in assets.
The headquarters of Annabel’s business are in Stourpaine, Dorset, in her country home. It is said that while Charles was still married to the late Princess Diana, she and her late husband, Simon, gave Charles and Camilla permission to “hold secret meetings” in this location.
In light of recent events, Camilla’s connection with the royal family is still a contentious issue. According to a March 2024 article, Prince Harry is skeptical of the developing relationship between William and the Queen.
“He [Harry] really distrusts that William actually gets on rather well now with Camilla – Harry will see this as a betrayal,” said author and royal analyst Tom Quinn.
Tom also stated that Harry was taken aback when William came to understand that Camilla, who they had earlier thought of as a “monster” as children, is, in fact, a “nice woman.” “She is exceptionally good at listening with a sympathetic ear, and William has definitely warmed to that,” the royal expert said of the Queen.
Tom went on to say that Harry sees William’s better connection with Camilla as just another example of his betrayal of the family. “For Harry, things have never really moved on since his mother died,” said Tom.
The siblings’ ongoing animosity hasn’t stopped William from taking on more royal duties. A major change in his responsibilities occurred in May when Charles made him Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.
The Palace disclosed the message, “In August 2023, following His Majesty’s accession, the King was pleased to announce military appointments, including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. The role was previously held by His Majesty the King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.”
The role transfer was officially scheduled to take place at the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop on May 13, according to sources. During Harry’s visit to the UK that month, this information was released.
What made things even more intriguing was that, although William was taking on the post for the first time, the Duke of Sussex had held it before her.
Harry has a long history with the armed forces. In addition to having held the title earlier, he spent 10 years in the Armed Forces, including two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the British Army, before his operational duties were terminated in 2015. Harry and other royal family members “have official relationships with many units of the Forces.”
According to the King and Queen of England’s official website, the royal family pays “regular visits” to soldiers, airmen, and sailors who serve both domestically and overseas. For a very long time, they have acknowledged and encouraged “the work of the Armed Services.”
The timing of the news has sparked suspicion when thinking back to William’s most recent awarding of a new title. Given that it is well known that Harry and his father’s relationship has been strained recently, speculation has been running wild in public.
“This is one of the most public rifts in the world. If it was handled in private without so much press speculation, it would have a better chance of being resolved,” asserted royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams while speaking about Harry and King Charles III.
The removal of Annabel from the Duchy payroll and William’s new position in the Army Air Corps both serve to highlight his increased responsibilities. These choices, made in the midst of Harry’s problems, give the drama surrounding the royal family a new dimension.
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