The Queen's True Worth

Description

How rich is the Queen and where did her wealth come from? Have you ever wondered where the funding for the Queen’s priceless jewellery, gilded carriages and opulent palaces comes from? Not to mention the lavish royal weddings, as well as the divorce settlements. Senior royals cannot earn their own private income, so what is the source of this immense wealth? Drawing on previously-unseen state papers and interviews with palace insiders, David McClure’s fascinating investigation outlines the many ways in which funds are secured to maintain royal lifestyles, including a £100 million stamp collection, a £10 million fleet of vintage cars, a valuable horse-racing stud and a small fortune in wedding and other semi-private gifts. FOREWORD PROLOGUE: MONETISING THE MONARCHY CHAPTER 1: HANDING OVER CONTROL OF THE PURSE STRINGS CHAPTER 2: TROUBLE IN PARADISE CHAPTER 3: IS THE PALACE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? CHAPTER 4: STABILISING SANDRINGHAM CHAPTER 5: THE HIGH COST OF A HIGHLAND HOME CHAPTER 6: THE SHAPE SHIFTING ESTATE CHAPTER 7: GEEKS AND GREEKS BEARING GIFTS CHAPTER 8: SAVINGS FROM STATE SUBVENTION CHAPTER 9: INHERITING THE EARTH AND MORE CHAPTER 10: MILKING THE CORNWALL CASH COW CHAPTER 11: PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH HER PRIVATE FORTUNE CHAPTER 12: TACKING AROUND THATCHERISM CHAPTER 13: MAKING A MAJOR TAX CONCESSION CHAPTER 14: COUNTING THE COST OF DIVORCE CHAPTER 15: LOOKING A GIFT HORSE CHAPTER 16: CHEATING DEATH DUTIES CHAPTER 17: TRAINS AND BOATS AND PLANES CHAPTER 18: GIVING THE SOVEREIGN A GENEROUS GRANT CHAPTER 19: DITCHING THE DUCHY FOR A NEW DEAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS