Princess Kate is known for her lavish spending on hair care, clothing for her three children, and luxurious holidays, while maintaining an approachable public image.
During her solo trip to Italy last week, the Princess of Wales continued to attract British media attention with a series of elegant outfits from high-end brands. However, behind the polished image of Prince William’s wife lies a very discreetly managed private life.
According to the Daily Mail, the majority of the Welsh family’s personal income comes from the Duchy of Cornwall – a private estate worth approximately £1.1 billion managed by Prince William after King Charles III ascended the throne. This Duchy generates around £22 million in profit annually, used for both official duties and the family’s personal expenses.
Royal author Norman Baker reports that the dresses Kate wears at official events are often considered “business expenses” and are paid for from the profits of the Duchy of Cornwall. However, private expenses such as hair, vacations, shopping for her children, or home furnishings are paid for by the Welsh couple themselves.
According to expert Richard Eden, Kate’s biggest spending is mainly on “children, hair, and beauty.”
Princess Kate’s iconic voluminous hair has long been a topic of international media interest. She is said to frequently visit the salon of Italian stylist Rossano Ferretti – famous for his “Method” haircut, which costs around £600 per session.
In addition to haircuts and styling, sources also indicate that Kate uses many high-end hair treatments to maintain her signature brown color. She is also said to have regular eyebrow treatments and maintain a minimalist manicure, in accordance with royal protocol, using nude or light pink colors.
Besides investing in her appearance, Kate pays special attention to her three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis.
The Princess often buys children’s clothing from brands such as Boden, Ralph Lauren, Zara Kids, and GAP. Whenever family photos are released, the items her children wear quickly sell out in the UK, creating a phenomenon the media calls the “Geroge, Charlotte, Louis effect.”
In a photo of her 11th birthday released earlier this month, Princess Charlotte wore a Ralph Lauren sweater worth over £100. Meanwhile, Prince Louis once attracted attention with a blue zip-up jacket from Boden, priced at around £42.
Kate is also known for being a generous mother when it comes to children’s items. When her three children were young, she frequently used Silver Cross Balmoral strollers – a luxury line for infants costing from over £1,000 to nearly £5,000. All three Welsh children also used high-end car seats when they were newborns.
Besides clothing, tuition and uniforms for the children are also a significant expense. Lambrook School – where George, Charlotte, and Louis attend – requires uniforms worth nearly £2,000. British media even predict that Prince George’s expenses will increase significantly if he attends Eton in the future.
The Welsh family also maintains a luxurious but discreet holiday lifestyle. Earlier this year, William and Kate were seen on holiday in Courchevel – a famous French ski resort dubbed the “Saint Tropez of snow lovers.” The restaurant they visited reportedly sold a cheese and ham sandwich for £74.
Last summer, the family of five also vacationed on the Greek island of Kefalonia aboard the luxury yacht Lady Beatrice, worth approximately £20 million.
Despite often appearing in expensive designs by Alexander McQueen or Catherine Walker, Kate maintains a relatable image by incorporating more affordable brands like Zara, Marks & Spencer, and Boden into her everyday style.
The Princess has also revealed that many of the furniture pieces in her children’s bedrooms are purchased from IKEA. However, British media reports indicate that the Welsh couple wear custom-made cashmere robes costing up to £8,000 each at home.
