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, now known as 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 is 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 Will and Kate have spent their inherited fortune on.
The Duchy of Cornwall Estate
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, according to House Beautiful.
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 Charles paid himself an income of $25 million from the Duchy of Cornwall the year before he became King.
Anmer Hall
Reportedly "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, per Architectural Digest.
The home, however, is still 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 in 2020.
Kate Middleton's engagement ring
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, per E! News. Princess Diana chose the ring herself and it was a unique choice, because, purchased from a catalog, it was not a one-of-a-kind item, per People. 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."
The Olympic Cartier set
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, is a part of a set that was a nod to the Olympic Games, per Marie Claire. The necklace on its own is worth about $60,000 and is made of three different types of 18-karat gold and diamonds. Cartier "denied lending it to the Duchess of Cambridge" 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, she 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, per Us Weekly. This makes 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.
Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch
The French luxury jewelry brand 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 Cartier pieces. One of the most worn Cartier 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, per OK! 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's wedding dress
Kate Middleton is no stranger to wearing 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 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 borrowed from designers, according to Vogue.
Her wedding dress, however, is presumably owned by the couple and is surely one of the most expensive pieces of clothing she owns, worth over $300,000, per The Sun. 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 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.
Kate's diamond bracelet from Prince Charles
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, per Express. The set is thought to be custom-made, making it a one-of-a-kind. Jeweler Anna Byers told Express, "After her wedding to Prince William, Prince Charles welcomed his new daughter-in-law with a set of matching yellow and white gold pieces. 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."
The bracelet alone is thought to be worth over $50,000. Composed of a pattern with a central yellow-hued diamond surrounded by smaller diamond clusters, the bracelet is a standout piece, and 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, per Insider.
The couple's most expensive cars
While Prince William and Kate Middleton have chauffeurs that often drive them, the couple also likes to drive themselves around every now and then, per The Sun. 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've splurged on occasion.
When they're not being hauled around town in a leased $400,000 bulletproof Bentley, their automotive 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, per The Daily Mail. 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 — according to Express.