The Most Expensive Things Prince William And Kate Middleton Own

There are undoubtedly perks and palaces that come along with the trials and tribulations of being born a royal — or falling in love and marrying one. For Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, wealth could certainly be listed as one of those bonuses. However, it may come as a surprise that it isn't quite as simple as having indispensable amounts of money at their disposal. Being a royal means living under a microscope and being aware that any purchases will likely be scrutinized by the press and the public.

Though Prince William and Kate are estimated to be worth millions, many properties, cars, and jewels are actually owned by the royal Family as an institution and don't strictly belong to the Prince and Princess of Wales. But let's take a closer look at some of the extravagant items that the pair have spent their inherited fortune on or acquired as presents.

After the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, Prince William inherited a massive estate known as the Duchy of Cornwall. Laura Clancy of Lancaster University explained to CNN that "[Royal wills] are hidden, so we have no idea actually what's in them and what that's worth, and that's never ever made public." However, the passing down of estates such as the Duchy of Cornwall is a tradition well documented throughout history since the creation of the estate in 1337. The duchy's official website notes that it was established by Edward III "to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward." The estate is reportedly worth $1 billion and includes 53,000 hectares of land across 23 counties.

Despite the massive amount of money this adds to Prince William's fortune, the majority of the income is required to go back into the estate. The duchy's website states, "The revenue from his estate is used to fund the public, private and charitable activities of The Duke and his immediate family." Though CNN noted that, because it was a "private source of wealth," they are not required to report income. Reportedly, King Charles III paid himself an income of $25 million from the Duchy of Cornwall the year before he ascended the throne.

Seemingly "one of the most expensive gifts ever," Anmer Hall was one of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding presents from Queen Elizabeth II, valued at $1.7 million, per My London News. A Georgian mansion located in Norfolk, the house has 30 rooms — including 10 bedrooms — and surrounding gardens. After adding two children to their family, the home became their primary residence from 2015 to 2017 before settling into Kensington Palace and then Adelaide Cottage at Windsor.

The home has remained a family favorite but acts as more of a quiet country getaway for the royal couple nowadays. Despite the grandeur of Anmer Hall, the pair seem to go there to experience a simpler life. "You'd think that Kate and William would have an army of staff to help them out, but it really was just them and the children," an insider told People in 2017. They also hunkered down at the home during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020.

With all the attention and money that gets poured into royal weddings, it's no surprise that Kate Middleton's wedding ring is one of the most expensive items the couple possesses. The ring formerly belonged to Prince William's mother, Princess Diana, and is estimated to be worth about $500,000. 

The late beloved princess chose the ring herself, and it was a unique choice because the piece was purchased from a catalog and not a one-of-a-kind item, unlike many previous royal nuptials. After Princess Diana's death, Prince William and Prince Harry inherited the ring and, since William was the first to get engaged, Harry agreed to let William give the ring to Kate Middleton.

The ring is composed of a large blue sapphire surrounded by 14 sparkling diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. A jewelry expert told Express, "Sapphires are a favorite of the royals thanks to the belief that they protect from harm, negative energies, and bad spirits, as well as being an apparent antidote for poison."

In 2012, Kate Middleton stepped out wearing a very expensive Cartier necklace to an event at the National Portrait Gallery. The necklace, called the Trinity necklace, was a part of a set that was a nod to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. The necklace on its own is worth about $60,000 and is made of three different types of 18-karat gold and diamonds. Cartier confirmed that they didn't give the jewelry as a gift, which means she, or someone close to her, spent the full dollar amount to keep the item in her permanent collection.

This was proven further when, a few years later, Kate was spotted wearing the matching earrings, meaning she must have had the full set all along. The matching Cartier hoops are reportedly worth over $56,000, making the set worth well over $100,000, making this one of the most expensive items the Princess owns. According to Express, the pricey set was a gift from her husband.

The French luxury jeweler, Cartier, has been a favorite of the Royal Family for quite some time. King Edward VII allegedly called Cartier the "King of Jewelers and the Jeweler to Kings" in 1849, according to Du Jour. Prince William and Kate Middleton certainly seem to agree. The future King and Queen of England own an array of the brand's pieces. 

One of the most worn of the brand's pieces the princess owns is her Ballon Bleu watch. The timepiece that Kate is often seen wearing features a stainless steel band, a quartz movement, and a blue sapphire that coordinates perfectly with her wedding ring. The watch was reportedly a gift from Prince William for their three-year wedding anniversary. Though the watch is sold at retail for around $6,500, the princess's watch — because it has now been owned by royalty — is estimated to be well worth over $20,000.

Kate Middleton is no stranger to wearing glamorous designer fashion and apparently has expensive taste. In 2012, The Daily Mail reported that the princess spent over $45,000 on her wardrobe that year and that the then-Prince Charles is the one who provided the budget for her. However, many of the super expensive outfits Middleton has stepped out in are actually lent to her by the designers.

However, Kate's wedding dress is presumably one of the most expensive pieces of clothing she owns, worth over $300,000. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the gown was made of ivory satin and lace, complete with an 8-foot train. Following the 2011 wedding, the dress was put on display at Buckingham Palace for the rest of the year, where royal fans could see it up close and in person. After the exhibition, the dress went into storage as a part of the Royal Collection.

King Charles III — formerly Prince Charles — gave his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, a very expensive wedding gift: a three-piece jewelry set, estimated to be worth over $70,000. The set is thought to be custom-made, making it a one-of-a-kind.

"After her wedding to Prince William, Prince Charles welcomed his new daughter-in-law with a set of matching yellow and white gold pieces," jeweler Anna Byers told Express. "This included a ring, bracelet, and a pair of drop earrings she has since worn on several occasions. They are in an Art Deco style and seem to be custom-made for Kate."

Composed of a pattern with a central yellow-hued diamond surrounded by smaller diamond clusters, the bracelet is a standout piece. Thought to be worth over $50,000, the princess has worn it on several occasions, including to a 2011 BAFTA event in Los Angeles when she paired it with a flowy lilac dress and diamond belt.

While Prince William and Kate Middleton have chauffeurs that often drive them, the couple also likes to drive themselves around every now and then. It may come as a surprise, however, that both of their vehicle histories are rather ordinary. Prince William's first car was a Ford Focus, and both William and Kate drove Volkswagen Golfs in the late '90s and early 2000s. But as they have gotten older, they have definitely splurged on their automobiles on occasion.

When they're not being hauled around town in a leased $400,000 bulletproof Bentley, their tastes seem to lean towards the environmentally friendly. In 2021, the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the Earthshot Prize Awards in a fully-electric Audi that can cost upward of $150,000. Electric car chargers had been recently installed at their residence. In 2022, the couple arrived at a St. Patrick's Day Parade in a brand-new hybrid Range Rover that is estimated to be worth over $100,000 after selling their last Range Rover for around $50,000.

Kate Middleton has been known to don various priceless jewels from the royal vault. While many belong to the Crown (she simply borrows them for special occasions), it seems the Princess of Wales actually owns one of the most stunning pieces in the collection: the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace. The opulent diamond-encrusted creation was a wedding gift to the late Queen Elizabeth II from the Nizam (or ruler) of India's Hyderabad State — hence its name.

The story goes that Nizam Asaf Jah VII invited Elizabeth to choose any two Cartier pieces she liked and she opted for a tiara as well as the platinum and diamond necklace featuring English roses. Hugh Roberts, former director of the Royal Collection, described it in "The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style" as having a detachable double-drop pendant featuring 13 emerald-cut diamonds. As for the chain, it's equally regal with "38 brilliant-cut open-back collets with an elongated oval brilliant-set snap." Experts estimate its value at around £66.3 million (about $82.6 million), which makes it the most expensive piece of royal jewelry in the world.

In 2014, Kate became the first royal other than the Queen to wear the multimillion-dollar gem when she attended a charity fundraiser for London's National Portrait Gallery. She wore it again in 2019 to the Diplomatic Corps Reception, and, it's unknown whether or not she inherited the showstopping creation following the queen's death.