The British Royal Family is one of the world’s most recognisable institutions. Although the monarch has a constitutional rather than a political role, family members carry out hundreds of public engagements each year, support charitable causes, and appear at major national occasions.

King Charles III became head of the British Royal Family after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in 2022. Other senior members include his sister, Anne, Princess Royal, and his brothers, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. In addition, Charles has two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

The British Royal Family on Buckingham Palace balcony after Trooping the Colour 2023. Photo Credit: © Katie Chan.

King Charles III

Charles became King Charles III, with his second wife, Camilla, as Queen consort. He is thought to be worth around £1.8 billion pounds and, when in London, he resides at Clarence House rather than nearby Buckingham Palace, which the royals often refer to as ‘the office’. In addition to Buckingham Palace, the sovereign also has homes at Balmoral and Holyrood in Scotland, as well as Sandringham near King’s Lynn in Norfolk and Windsor just outside Greater London. He also owns Highgrove Hall, a private house near Bath.

British Royal Family: King Charles III. Photo Credit: © White House via Wikimedia Commons.

The Princess Royal

Princess Anne resides mainly at her home, Gatcombe House, in Gloucestershire with her second husband, Commander Tim Laurence. She also has an apartment at St James’s Palace in London, which she uses when she must be in the capital for official occasions such as the Coronation. A keen horse rider, she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1971 and competed with the British Equestrian team at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

British Royal Family: The Princess Royal Anne. Photo Credit: © UK Home Office via Wikimedia. Commons.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, is the late Queen and Prince Philip’s second son and third child. His former home, Royal Lodge, is up for sale, but prospective buyers will have to pay £400,000 a year in running costs. A keen skier, he served as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot and saw action in the Falklands War. He is amicably divorced from his first wife, Sarah Ferguson. King Charles has reportedly paid the £1.8 million repair bill for Royal Lodge after Andrew returned the keys. Andrew is currently living on the Sandringham estate, while his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, has been ‘sofa surfing’ with rich friends.

British Royal Family: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Photo Credit: © Titanic Belfast via Wikimedia Commons.

The Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Edward is the late queen’s fourth and final child. King Charles appointed him Duke of Edinburgh in 2023. His father originally held the title, which he received for marrying the queen. Prince Edward was also given the title Earl of Wessex before he married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. They live with their two children at Bagshot Park in Surrey, after which the charity is named. Known for his hard work as a royal, Edward was formerly involved with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre but has now left the company.

British Royal Family: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. Photo Credit: © UKinUSA via Wikimedia Commons.

The Prince of Wales

Prince William is the late Queen’s eldest grandson and future monarch of the United Kingdom. He currently holds the title his father held for many years: Prince of Wales. He lives with his wife, Catherine Middleton, and their three children at Forest Lodge, near Windsor Castle. Their eldest son, Prince George, has just started at Eton College. The Prince of Wales consistently enjoys high popularity ratings and has been involved in charitable work related to HIV/AIDS and mental health. He supports Aston Villa in football and Wales in rugby. He receives around £20 million a year from the Duchy of Cornwall and is said to be worth £1.2 billion.

London West End, Marylebone St, Christopher’s Place restaurant. Photo Credit: ©London & Partners. British Royal Family: Daniel Torok:White House. Photo Credit: © Daniel Torok/White House via Wikimedia Commons.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Prince Harry does not enjoy the high ratings of his brother William. However, the book Spare, which Harry wrote with the help of a ghostwriter, is the best- selling non-fiction book since records began. It details his struggles with mental health issues and his marriage to Meghan Markle, his American wife. People often ask about the King and Princess Diana’s second son. As has been well documented, Harry and Meghan have relocated to Britain, reportedly so their children can be educated there.

British Royal Family: Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry. Photo Credit: © Carfax2 via Wikimedia Commons.

Miscellaneous Facts About The British Royal Family

1. By tradition, the British Royal Family do not vote. They must appear neutral in all political matters.
2. The royals’ wealth is a subject of considerable debate. Many of the items they supposedly ‘own’ could never be sold in real life.
3. All laws passed by Parliament must receive royal assent before they go into the statute book. Theoretically, this gives the monarch veto power.
4. However, the last time the royal veto was used was over 300 years ago during the reign of Queen Anne, so it is effectively dead.
5. If the royal family were abolished tomorrow, UK taxpayers would save £1-£2 per head.