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Prince William has decided not to rehire Queen Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot, as an interior designer for the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy, a 700-year-old estate that provides income for the heir to the throne, revealed in its latest Integrated Annual Report that Elliot was not engaged for design services in the 2023-2024 year.
According to The Telegraph, sources confirmed that Prince William's decision not to rehire Ms. Elliot was not a reflection of her work. Instead, her tasks were considered complete, and the staff had learned sufficiently from her. Annabel, 75, had been appointed as the chief designer of King Charles' estates after his marriage to Camilla in 2005. Over the years, she was paid several hundred thousand dollars for her work.
The report detailed payments to Annabel for fees, commissions, and the purchase of furniture and furnishings for Duchy properties, including holiday accommodations and offices. However, as of March 31, 2024, there were no outstanding payments to her.
Annabel's work included decorating and updating luxury rental cottages across Cornwall, Wales, and the Isles of Scilly. Despite her significant role, the duchy's design contracts were not open for public bidding. Her company, Annabel Elliot Ltd., is described as specializing in interior design, decoration, and antiques.
Queen Camilla and Annabel share a close bond, recently attending Wimbledon together. Annabel also played a significant role in Camilla's coronation at Westminster Abbey in May 2023, where her grandson, Arthur Elliot, served as one of Camilla's Pages of Honor.
The Duchy's latest report highlights Prince William's first full year managing the estate as the new Duke of Cornwall. He received $30 million from the estate's income, which supports the official, charitable, and private expenses of his family. The Duchy spans 130,000 acres across 23 counties in England and Wales, valued at over $1 billion. While Prince William pays income tax on the Duchy's income, he has not disclosed the tax bill as his father did.
