Prince William cuts Camilla’s sister from royal payroll

Prince William has made some budget cuts around his billion-dollar Duchy of Cornwall empire and the result has affected his stepmother’s sister.

Prince William has cut Queen Camilla’s sister from the Duchy of Cornwall payroll, ending a 20-year association with the 75-year-old.

Annabel Elliot was employed as chief estates designer by King Charles, when he was the Prince of Wales, after his marriage to Queen Camilla in 2005.

Elliot was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars over two decades to decorate and update the Duchy’s heritage holiday homes in Cornwall, Wales and the Isles of Scilly.

Prince William has tightened his billion-dollar belt. Picture: Getty Images

The Duchy of Cornwall is the Royal Family’s 700-year-old estate, which provides income to the heir to the throne.

Prince William assumed control of the Duchy of Cornwall after his father ascended the throne last year following Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022.

In its latest Integrated Annual Report revealed that the Queen’s sister was not retained for her design services in the 2023-2024 year.

Queen Camilla with her sister Annabel Elliot (left) in London in February. Picture: Getty Images

“During the period to 8th September 2022 the Duchy paid Mrs. Annabel Elliot, the 24th Duke of Cornwall’s sister-in-law, in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis £19,625 [A$38,558] for fees and commission and £12,316 A$24,197] for the purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock for the Duchy of Cornwall Holiday accommodation, Duchy offices and Duchy Nursery,” the report said, which was the same information shared last year.

Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars over a 20-year period to decorate homes that were part of the Duchy of Cornwall. Picture: Supplied

“At 31st March 2024, there was £nil (2023: £nil) [nothing] remaining payable to Mrs. Elliot in respect of these,” the new annual report, published on Wednesday local time, added.

“Sources confirmed that Prince William would no longer employ Ms. Elliot, although it was no reflection on her work,” The Telegraph reported.

Queen Camilla’s sister will no longer be paid to decorate for the Duchy of Cornwall. Picture: Getty Images

Sources told The Telegraph that the Queen’s sister’s work was a “temporary contract” and considered “finished”. Sources also said her “guidance” was “no longer needed” by Duchy staff.

In a section in the accounts under “related party transactions”, Elliot was said to have been paid “in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis”.

It also revealed that Elliot had previously been paid for “fees and commission” and reimbursed for the “purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock”.

Controversy surrounded Elliot’s employment given her family links and that her contract was never advertised publicly.

Originally published as Prince William cuts Camilla’s sister from royal payroll