The Royal Family could be raking in £118,775 each month from their holiday and short-let portfolio, adding up to a lucrative annual rental income of more than £1.4 million.

Pikl Insurance crunched the numbers from the residences’ booking websites which the public can access to book their stays in Balmoral Castle, The Castle of Mey’s Captain House, Dumfries House, and Restormel Manor. It factored cancellations within the total estimated earnings, using the UK average cancellation figures of 23% of bookings.

Balmoral Castle, the summer retreat synonymous with the Royal Family - with seven rooms available to book - is estimated to bring in a substantial £36,798 per month, while the Castle of Mey’s Captain House (main image) in the Scottish Highlands contributes a more modest £3,709, with the entire property available to book.

Property for rent

In Ayrshire, Dumfries House adds £31,185 to the royal coffers with 25 rooms available and Cornwall’s Restormel Manor generates £47,082 per month, with four different areas within the manor house and six converted barns on the property for rent.  

Cliff Ward, Pikl’s expert in the holiday lettings industry, says the impressive figures demonstrate the significant earning potential of these royal residences. However, he adds that while the royal estate is undoubtedly a unique asset, these properties face similar challenges to any other holiday let, including seasonal fluctuations and cancellations.

“I can imagine that the crown has an important job to do when it comes to finding a delicate balance between maximising income to pay the teams that manage these buildings and preserving the heritage of these historic homes,” adds Ward.

Image credit: Castle of Mey.