Prince William has ended Queen Camilla’s sister’s 20-year association with the Duchy of Cornwall payroll.
Annabel Elliot, 75, had been employed as the chief estates designer by King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales, following his marriage to Queen Camilla in 2005. She was paid through the Duchy of Cornwall, which Charles controlled until he became king after Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022. Over the years, Annabel reportedly earned several hundred thousand dollars for her work.
With Prince William now the Duke of Cornwall, the Duchy of Cornwall Estate falls under his control. The latest Integrated Annual Report from the Duchy of Cornwall revealed that Annabel was not retained for her design services in the 2023-2024 year. The reason for Prince William’s decision remains unclear.
Annabel had previously decorated and updated properties across the Duchy of Cornwall’s luxury rental cottages in Cornwall, Wales, and the Isles of Scilly, earning commissions and reimbursement for furniture, furnishings, and retail stock, according to The Telegraph.
The duchy’s design contracts were not open for bidding, so Annabel apparently faced no competition for the royal job. Queen Camilla and Annabel share a close bond, and they maintained a summer tradition by attending Wimbledon together on July 10, 2014. Annabel also served as a coronation attendant when Camilla was crowned at Westminster Abbey in May 2023, where the Queen included members of her family from the next generation.
