Prince George and Prince Louis’ godparents have been added to the royal payroll, whilst Camilla’s sister received the chop.
The Prince of Wales, 42, took over the running of the Duchy of Cornwall when his father, King Charles, succeeded to the throne.
Two of William’s closest friends - Harry Aubrey-Fletcher and William van Cutsem - have now been employed by the Prince of Wales to become his colleagues at the 13,000-acre Duchy estate. William served as an usher at both men’s weddings.
Both Aubrey Fletcher and Custem will take on a role of advisor to the council at the estate - which William inherited last year and provides the royal with a £23million income.
Prince George and Louis' godparents have been made colleagues of the Duchy Estate, following Camilla's sister's snubGetty/PAAubrey Fletcher, who is Prince Louis’ godparent, “manages a group of rural businesses across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and West Sussex”.
Meanwhile, Custem is a chartered surveyor who specialises in commercial property. He is the godfather to William’s first-born, Prince George.
Whilst the Prince’s best friends are added to the payroll, one notable figure was left out.
Annabel Elliot, 75, the Queen's younger sister, has been paid several hundred thousands of pounds for her services over the last two decades, according to reports.
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Harry Aubrey-Fletcher attends the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in 2017
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Prince William and William van Cutsem
PA
However, now, sources have told The Telegraph that Prince William would no longer employ Elliot, although it was no reflection on her work.
She was employed by the King as chief designer of his estates following his 2005 marriage to Queen Camilla.
Since then, Elliot has enjoyed annual payment for her work on the Duchy holiday cottage portfolio, decorating and updating its period properties in Cornwall, Wales and the Isles of Scilly.
From 2005 to 2002, the Duchy’s annual accounts detailed how she had been paid “in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis” with varying amounts ranging between £19,625 and £82,272.
Queen Camilla [right] and Annabel Elliot [left] in the stands of Court One at Wimbledon
PAHer duties included maintenance of its rental properties as well as the Duchy offices and its plant nursery.
She was reimbursed additional amounts each year, ranging from £7,160 to £90,285, for the purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock.
However, the latest Duchy of Cornwall accounts show that for Prince William's first full year as the Duke of Cornwall, Elliot had not been paid for her services between 2023 and 2024.
According to reports, this reflects a shift in management style from Charles to William.
