When then-prince Charles’ affair with Camilla was made public, all eyes were on the royals. Among the rest, this revelation provoked the anger at Charles’ children, Prince Harry and Prince William.
At the beginning, their relationship with the new woman in their father’s life was a far cry from perfect. However, over time, she earned their respect, especially William’s.
Recently, however, it was revealed that William made a decision that may not sit quite well with Queen Camilla. As per reports, he removed Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, from the payroll once he took over the Duchy of Cornwall.
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Over the past 20 years, Elliot, who is an interior designer, has been paid hundreds of thousands of pounds. She was first hired by King Charles as chief designer of his estates back in 2005, following his marriage to Camilla.
According to the latest Duchy accounts, Elliot hasn’t received a payment for her services for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The statement from the Duchy’s 2024 annual report, stated, “During the period to 8th September 2022 the Duchy paid Mrs Annabel Elliot, the 24th Duke of Cornwall’s sister-in-law, in the normal course of business and on an arm’s length basis £19,625 (or $25,091.25) for fees and commission and £12,316 ($15746.44) for the purchase of furniture, furnishings and retail stock for the Duchy of Cornwall Holiday accommodation, Duchy offices and Duchy Nursery. At 31st March 2024 there was £nil (2023: £nil) remaining payable to Mrs Elliot in respect of these [sic].”
Despite this decision regarding the Duchy of Cornwall, Elliot has not been fully removed from royal projects. In fact, she was hired to oversee improvements to the visitor centre and restaurant at Balmoral before it opens for the public this summer.
As per the Palace, Elliot’s services would be required when there are “appropriate opportunities.”
Elliot has run her company Annabel Elliot Interior Design and Antiques in Dorset for more than 30 years, becoming the fifth most influential female interior designer in the UK in 2014.
In 2012, Elliot ran a project to convert a “run-down barn building” into an elegant guesthouse on the grounds of Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, becoming Charles’ chief interior designer.
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The reactions from the public following William’s decision to drop Elliot from payroll have been mixed. “Charles put her on the payroll she wouldn’t have been interior designer if it wasn’t for her sister and I’m glad Prince William took her off payroll [sic],” someone commented. “So he should, didn’t know she was on the payroll,” another added. A third wrote, “Why was she even on it? What does she do exactly?”
There were also those who praised Elliot’s work as an interior designer. “Camilla’s sister, an interior designer, worked on a contract , the contract is now completed . Annabelle is 75 and is retiring [sic].”
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Elliot has been married to husband Simon Elliot since 1972 and they share three children together, including Ben Elliot, a businessman and fund-raiser for the Conservative Party who served as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party from July 2019 to September 2022.
She and Queen Camilla are extremely close.
