Queen Elizabeth II has another reason to smile this year – her annual income will increase 20 percent to $56 million thanks to her property portfolio.
The Crown Estate posted a record profit of $377 million in the past 12 months, largely due to increased demand for its premium retail properties on London’s Regent Street.
The portfolio also includes royal palaces, residential buildings throughout central London, a race course and even offshore wind farms.
The Queen’s allowance was frozen in 2010 but new laws allow it to be bolstered by a percentage of the profits of her property portfolio.
The royal family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in 1960.
Buckingham Palace during the 2012 Trooping of the Colour.
Buckingham Palace.
Frogmore House near Windsor.
Sandringham House in Norfolk, North East England.
The Queen, Prince Philip and a corgi outside Sandringham House in 1982.
London’s Kensington Palace.
Princess Diana and her sons William and Harry in Kensington Palace in 1985.
Diana lived at Kensington Palace after her divorce from Prince Charles.
London’s Clarence House, home to Prince Charles.
The Queen Mother outside Clarence House in 1990.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton outside Holyroodhouse in 1963.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Windsor Castle.
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret outside Windsor Castle in 1941.
St James’ Palace in London.
The Crown Estate owns all the freeholds in Kensington Palace Gardens.
The monarch also owns all retail and residential property in London’s Regent Street.
The income from Regent Street each year is substantial.
The crown also owns Royal Ascot racecourse.
The Queen and Prince Philip arriving at Royal Ascot this week.
The Crown Estate owns large parts of residential development Paddington Basin.
One of the crown’s lucrative offshore wind farms.
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The monarch owns Winsdor Great Park, shown here in 1980.
Prestigious golf club The Berkshire is built on land owned by the crown.
Swinley Forest is another golf club built on Crown Land.
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