In a significant shift within the British royal family, Prince William has made headlines by removing Annabel Elliot, Queen Camilla’s sister, from the royal payroll. The move signals a departure from the practices of King Charles III, who had employed Elliot as an interior designer for the royals for nearly two decades. The decision, seen by many as an effort to distance the monarchy from perceived nepotism, marks a new era in how the Duke of Cornwall plans to manage his responsibilities.
As the current head of the Duchy of Cornwall, Prince William holds the right to manage the estate’s financial and operational aspects as he sees fit. His decision to dismiss Elliot from her long-held role appears to be a definitive stance against favoritism within the royal ranks. According to reports from The Daily Beast, William wasn’t fond of the preference given to Camilla’s family, which began soon after Charles married Camilla in 2005.
A Move to Distance from the Parker Bowles Family
The decision to remove Elliot from the payroll may be part of a broader effort by Prince William to distance himself from the Parker Bowles family, to which he is reportedly not close. This includes his step-siblings, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes. An insider has suggested that “it is best to avoid mentioning Tom around William,” indicating a possible rift. Tom, for his part, seems to be leveraging his royal connections, with plans to publish a cookbook later this year entitled Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III.
The Camilla Connection
The issue of Queen Camilla’s influence might be one of the few areas where William and his estranged brother, Prince Harry, find common ground. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Prince Harry openly labeled Camilla as “dangerous,” explaining in a 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper that Camilla’s attempts to rehabilitate her public image posed a threat due to the relationships she cultivated with the British press. “With a family built on hierarchy,” Harry noted, “and with her on the way to being Queen Consort, there was going to be people or bodies left in the street because of that.”
Camilla’s close relationship with the British tabloids has not gone unnoticed by the royal siblings, especially as she has reportedly maintained connections with some of Meghan Markle’s most vocal media critics, including Jeremy Clarkson and Piers Morgan. Her invitations to her annual Christmas luncheon have further fueled the perception of her deep ties with the press. For William and Harry, Camilla will likely always bear the label of “the other woman” who played a significant role in the breakdown of Charles’ marriage to their mother, Princess Diana.
King Charles’ Stance
While Queen Camilla may have reservations about William’s financial decision, King Charles III appears unconcerned. “I think Charles has got bigger fish to fry than worrying about Annabel’s job prospects,” a source told The Daily Beast. The King, it seems, respects his eldest son’s autonomy over the Duchy of Cornwall. Annabel Elliot, now 75, has taken on the role of Queen’s Companion, a new designation for Camilla’s ladies-in-waiting, and remains occupied with her duties alongside her sister.
The removal of Elliot from the payroll underscores William’s commitment to bringing about a change in the royal family’s financial management, distancing it from personal alliances. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the broader dynamics within the royal family, but one thing is clear: Prince William is setting a new tone for the future of the monarchy.
