Prince Harry to get £8m inheritance for his 40th birthday next week...with William set for blow

She reportedly allocated two-thirds of her fortune into a trust for her great-grandchildren, with the foresight that William would eventually benefit from the Duchy of Cornwall's wealth.

As a result of this, Harry was designated a larger portion of the inheritance. The trust fund, estimated at £19million when established in 1994, was designed to provide tax-free lump sums to the Queen Mother's great-grandchildren.

A former Palace aide told The Times: "It was a way in which the Queen Mother could set aside money for when her great-grandchildren were older and a way of passing a slice of her estate down in a tax-efficient way."

The fund's distribution plan included two payments: one at age 21 and another at 40. It's understood that William and Harry received £6million between them at 21, with a further £8 million to be distributed upon turning 40.

The inheritance has sparked controversy, with some questioning what the Queen Mother would have thought of Harry's recent criticisms of the monarchy.

Royal author Christopher Andersen, speaking to Fox News, suggested: "Of course, the prince's great-granny couldn't have anticipated all the trouble Harry caused the rest of the family. I think she would have cut him out of [the trust] entirely had she known."

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Prince William is reportedly unhappy with the sum, given Harry's departure from senior royal duties and subsequent public criticisms of family members.

The situation has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of Harry's televised interviews and his memoir, Spare.

Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Harry and Meghan have been funding their California lifestyle through various projects and media deals. In a 2021 interview with Oprah, Harry claimed his family had "literally cut me off financially".

However, royal expenditure reports reveal that Prince Charles provided both William and Harry's families with £4.5million in the fiscal year beginning in April 2020.

A Clarence House spokesperson clarified that Charles had allocated "a substantial sum" to support the Sussexes' transition out of royal roles.

This funding ceased in the summer of 2021, with the couple now reportedly financially independent.