King's Foundation Keeps Camilla's Sister on Payroll Despite Prince William's Duchy Drop
Prince William’s cost-cutting saw Queen Camilla’s sister dropped from the Duchy payroll, but new claims suggest King Charles's foundation continues to employ her.
Prince William and King Charles's rumored differences in handling the duties of the monarchy have been making headlines. Dan Wakeford, founder of Celebrity Intelligence, earlier told Fox News Digital that the Prince of Wales "is working more like a CEO and being very strategic with his time." Additionally, William plans to implement a 'slimmed down' monarchy and cut unnecessary expenses. Shortly after taking charge of the Duchy of Cornwall in 2024, he removed Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, from its payroll. However, new claims suggest that the King's trust may still have Elliot on its payroll, despite William's earlier decision to remove her.
According to GB News, the King's Foundation has been compensating Elliot for branding and retail consultancy since her role with the Duchy of Cornwall ended after Prince William assumed control following King Charles's ascension. Elliot, who is an interior designer and antiques dealer, had worked for the Duchy for more than two decades. Back then, a source close to the Prince of Wales had indicated that the decision to end her retainer was not a reflection on her performance.
The charity, of which King Charles serves as Royal Founding President, did not disclose the consultancy in its related party transactions, which is a standard accounting practice meant to indicate potential conflicts of interest. During her time as the King's design adviser, Elliot earned a significant amount worth thousands of pounds. Her work included overseeing the renovation of Duchy-owned cottages and furnishing Dumfries House, the 18th-century Palladian country house in Ayrshire that currently serves as the King's Foundation headquarters.
It has been noted that the Queen's sister shares a close bond with the King; having previously praised his "quite extraordinary" eye for detail. While the Duchy of Cornwall regularly disclosed its financial dealings with Elliot in its annual accounts, the King's Foundation has faced criticism for omitting their financial agreement. A senior trustee expressed surprise at the consultancy's lack of disclosure, noting that monitoring such details falls under their oversight responsibilities.
In a public statement addressing the matter, the foundation highlighted its independence, asserting, "Whilst we would not comment on the detail of individual consultancy agreements, we can confirm that Mrs. Elliot provides design expertise to our retail and brand team across product and commercial partnerships. This arrangement is not secret."
However, the Foundation did not reveal how the consultancy role was awarded to Elliot, though it noted that she remains a valued consultant who brings expertise in interior design to various projects. When The Times inquired about the public disclosure of this arrangement, the foundation chose not to reveal it. The Telegraph had previously reported that before Prince William cut her off the payroll, Elliot received annual cash infusions between $25,000 and $106,000 for maintaining rental properties, Duchy offices, and its plant nursery.
