Book excerpt: How rich is the Queen and where did her wealth come from? Have you ever wondered where the funding for the Queen's priceless jewellery, gilded carriages and opulent palaces comes from? Not to mention the lavish royal weddings that we have seen over recent years... as well as divorce settlements. Senior Royals are not allowed to earn their own private income. But how far down the royal bloodline do you need to be before you can work? The question has certainly become more poignant since the announcement that Prince Harry and his recent bride Meghan are stepping back from royal duties. This book casts fresh light onto the finances of the current Queen and many of her predecessors, explaining the many ways in which funds are secured to maintain their lifestyles, including a £100 million stamp collection, a £10 million fleet of vintage cars, a valuable horse-racing stud and a small fortune in wedding and other semi-private gifts. And what of her descendants? Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews? Where do they fit into the intricate financial rulings for royalty? Drawing on previously-unseen state papers and interviews with palace insiders, David McClure's investigation leaves no stone unturned, in this quest to find out just how much our Queen is worth and where the royal 'coffers' come from.