Prince William is expected to inherit £10 million from the estate of his late mother, Princess Diana, after turning 30 today (21.06.12).
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The royal has the option of taking control of half of a trust fund left behind by Diana – who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 – which is widely believed to have grown to be worth more than £20 million.
Diana left an initial net estate of £12.9 million after inheritance tax of more than £8.5 million was deducted – and William’s brother, Prince Harry, 27, will inherit his part of the share on his 30th birthday on 15 September, 2014.
The late royal’s estate consisted of stocks and shares, jewellery, money from her £17 million divorce settlement with William and Harry’s father Prince Charles – who she split from in 1996 – and other personal belongings from her Kensington Palace apartment.
It is thought there is an understanding that when William becomes Prince of Wales on his father’s death, he will hand over most of the Diana inheritance to brother Harry. The Prince of Wales title comes with the bonus of a £750 million inheritance in the form of land.
William is expected to enjoy a “low-key” birthday celebration today with his wife Duchess Catherine – who he wed in April 2011.
A St James’s Palace spokesman explained: “He’ll be spending it in a low-key, private fashion.”
Catherine – formerly known as Kate Middleton prior to the couple’s nuptials – has been planning a big bash for William’s 30th birthday, but it is not expected to take place today.
She has held meetings with a number of his closest friends to arrange a party and sources have revealed the brunette has been “pulling out all the stops”.
