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In the latest breaking news today, The Prince and Princess of Wales released personal statements ahead of returning to their royal duties. The couple, alongside their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, spent the last weekend at their annual summer trip to Balmoral Castle in Scotland with other members of the royal family.
The statements come just before the royal children head back to school next week. In a message shared on their social media platforms, William and Catherine wished the very best of luck to Team GB athletes competing in the upcoming Paris Olympics. While the Prince and Princess are huge sports fans, they did not travel to the games. However, they featured alongside other celebrities in a video congratulating the British sportsmen and women for their performances.
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Being the future of the British monarchy is nothing new for William and Catherine, as they have stepped into these roles since marrying over a decade ago. William, of course, is the monarchy's literal future as the heir to the throne. However, his wife Catherine is also a key player in shaping the future of the royal family. As the elegant and enigmatic Princess of Wales, she is integral to sustaining the monarchy for generations to come. She is even ranked third in importance behind William and King Charles III in royal power rankings.
Catherine's absence from royal duties for the past 6 months on her extended maternity leave has only served to highlight how important she is to the family. Without her presence, many feel the royal family lacks appeal and excitement. Some people even labeled the annual Trooping the Colour celebration in June, where Catherine made her return, as the monarchy's best day since the coronation due to her involvement. She has revitalized the royal family in a similar way to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana.
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While Princess Catherine's yearly income is tied to that of Prince William's, the value she brings to sustaining the monarchy has no monetary figure. The royal family recently released the annual report for the Duchy of Cornwall, which reveals the Wes' finances from March 2023 to March 2024. The Duchy earned around £26.6 million, or over $30 million USD. Thus, while the Prince and Princess of Wales do not receive actual salaries, the Duchy of Cornwall pays for all of their family's expenses, including William. That money goes towards funding their public, charitable, and private activities.
Critics point out the £26.6 million earned by the Duchy is equivalent to paying the salaries of at least 635 nurses. And remember, just two weeks ago when Catherine appeared at the Wimbledon men's singles final, estimates show the royal couple has earned nearly $1.6 million in additional publicity and support for their causes since then. There are certainly things said to be priceless, like happiness, good health - but what about being a truly great princess? For Catherine, that value seems to be worth astronomical figures.
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For nearly two decades, Prince William's parting of ways with longtime aide Johnny Ellis marks a notable shift, as Ellis had filled the role of overseeing the Duchy of Cornwall's estates and finances since William’s father Charles was the Prince of Wales. Ellis was first hired by Charles following his 2005 marriage to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. But William's decision to part ways with Ellis is of little surprise to those close to him, as reshaping the Duchy to better suit his own vision and leadership approach was inevitable as the future King.
King Charles III, who has long desired streamlining the monarchy, agreed to restructuring proposals put forth by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their shared strategy includes three key elements designed to strengthen the monarchy's significance and ensure its long-term financial viability for generations to come. Changes to how the Duchy of Cornwall is managed will play a pivotal role in achieving these aims.
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If the name Hugh van Cutsem Jr. sounds familiar to longtime royal watchers, it is because the van Cutsem family have been fixtures in royal circles for decades. His father Hugh, who died in 2013 at age 72, was a close friend and neighbor to King Charles through their adjacent estates in Norfolk, England. Van Cutsem Jr., known to friends as "Hugo", has built a very successful career in property and investments, but is perhaps still best known for his deep personal ties to the British royal family - having even served as godfather to Prince George. Only time will tell how the reshaping of the Duchy's leadership under Prince William may impact this long-standing royal friendship.
In closing, the latest statements from the Prince and Princess of Wales mark an exciting new chapter as they prepare to return to their important roles supporting the King and promoting the British monarchy here and abroad. Under their combined leadership, many believe the institution is in capable hands to thrive for generations to come.
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