The Monarchy Today > The Royal Household > Departments > Privy Purse and Treasurer's Office

Accountants at work in the Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office
© Buckingham Palace Press Office

THE PRIVY PURSE AND TREASURER’S OFFICE

The Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office deals with financial, personnel, technical and property maintenance aspects of the Royal Household.

The name of the department may sound traditional, but the modern office is fully equipped with computerised systems and a professional staff of accountants, auditors, IT support people, property managers and personnel staff.

The Keeper of the Privy Purse is responsible for the management of the Sovereign’s financial affairs.

He looks after the management of the revenues which come to the Sovereign from the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Privy Purse, mainly financed by the net income from the Duchy, is used to meet both official expenditure incurred by The Queen as Sovereign and private expenditure.

As Treasurer to The Queen, the Keeper also oversees the management of the Civil List.

This is the money paid from public funds to meet official expenditure relating to The Queen’s duties as Head of State.

He oversees the Grants-in-Aid from Government Departments for the maintenance of the occupied Royal palaces and for Royal travel. Annual accounts are published for the Grants-in-Aid and the Civil List.


	Accountants at work in the Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office © Buckingham Palace Press Office THE PRIVY PURSE AND TREASURER’S OFFICE The Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office deals with financial, personnel, technical and property maintenance aspects of the Royal Household. The name of the department may sound traditional, but the modern office is fully equipped with computerised systems and a professional staff of accountants, auditors, IT support people, property managers and personnel staff. The Keeper of the Privy Purse is responsible for the management of the Sovereign’s financial affairs. He looks after the management of the revenues which come to the Sovereign from the Duchy of Lancaster. The Privy Purse, mainly financed by the net income from the Duchy, is used to meet both official expenditure incurred by The Queen as Sovereign and private expenditure. As Treasurer to The Queen, the Keeper also oversees the management of the Civil List. This is the money paid from public funds to meet official expenditure relating to The Queen’s duties as Head of State. He oversees the Grants-in-Aid from Government Departments for the maintenance of the occupied Royal palaces and for Royal travel. Annual accounts are published for the Grants-in-Aid and the Civil List.
	The Privy Purse is an historic embroidered bag which the Keeper carries at a Coronation. The present purse dates from the reign of George V and is decorated in thread with the Royal coat of arms. The Keeper and his team are additionally responsible for the property maintenance of the occupied Royal palaces and their gardens, for the financial aspects of Royal travel, for personnel matters and information technology in the Royal Household, for The Queen’s private estates and for the commercial activities of the Royal Collection Trust. Within the Keeper’s department is the Royal Philatelic Collection. This is the most comprehensive collection of UK and Commonwealth postage stamps in the world, formed from the private collections of George V and other members of the Royal Family. Recruitment Information about working for the Royal Household Royal finances Facts and figures about Royal expenditure