King Charles's astonishing estimated net worth as he makes historic tax bill move

King Charles is poised to take an extraordinary step for a sitting monarch - he will disclose his personal tax bill, marking a first for a British king or queen in modern times.

The move is anticipated later today (Thursday, June 25), with Charles maintaining that publishing his full personal tax bill is "the right thing to do" in a bid to be more transparent about royal finances with the wider public.

The disclosure will reveal the King's tax payments for the previous financial year - 2024-25 - encompassing tax on his income, including profits from the Duchy of Lancaster, any personal investments and earnings derived from the King's private estates, such as Sandringham and Balmoral.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "To put it simply, we continue to modernise and evolve."

The British monarch is under no obligation to pay income tax, inheritance tax on assets received from a preceding monarch, or capital gains tax. King Charles, however, voluntarily contributes both income tax and capital gains tax, reports the Daily Mirror.

But precisely how vast is Charles' personal fortune? That largely depends on the source you consult.

According to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List, published in May, Charles' personal wealth currently stands at £680million, rising from £640m the previous year.

However, the Sunday Times acknowledges that many believe the monarch to be a billionaire, given that some consider the Duchy of Lancaster and the Crown Estate to be his private assets. The publication stated: "More than three years into his reign, the magnitude of the King's wealth continues to divide opinion. Some commentators insist that Charles III is a billionaire, arguing that the Duchy of Lancaster and even the Crown Estate are his personal assets.

"We disagree. Both these estates come with the job as sovereign and there are rules circumscribing a monarch's ability to sell or profit from them. To consider these the King's personal holdings would be akin to an executive viewing the office laptop or the company car parked on their driveway as their own."

The Sunday Times similarly excluded Charles' art and jewellery collections from its final figure, maintaining that the collection is not personally owned by the King but is "held in trust by him as sovereign for his successors and the nation".

The Guardian adopted an entirely contrasting approach when it examined Charles' estimated fortune around the time of his coronation in May 2023.

They put the figure at approximately £1.815billion, encompassing assets such as the royal car collection, property reportedly valued at £330m, royal racehorses, jewels, art and stamps.

In an official response, the King's spokesperson declared at the time: "While he do not comment on private finances, your figures are a highly creative mix of speculation, assumption and inaccuracy."

Charles's wealth grew considerably following the passing of his mother The Queen in September 2022. According to reports, the King inherited substantial investment portfolios and private property assets, on which no inheritance tax was paid.