William's 30th Birthday Present: $16M

Life will soon be even sweeter for Prince William and his popular Princess Kate. Wills is about to inherit as much as $16 million from the estate of his late mother. "It will be quite a handy sum if he wants to buy his and Kate’s first family house," a source tells the Daily Mail. "What else would he need the money for?" The royal duo have digs in London's Kensington Palace, but might now consider a second pad close to Prince Charles' Highgrove retreat, some speculate.

Diana left close to $20 million worth of stocks, jewelry, and cash after her death in 1997, but the value of the estate has likely grown through investments to just over $30 million, which is to be split between William and Harry. Diana initially wanted her boys to be able to access the dough when they turned 25, but the age was upped to 30 after she died. William's 30th birthday is June 21. The prince already earns some $60,000 a year as an Royal Air Force search-and-rescue pilot, and an allowance from his dad. In addition, he can also draw on some $3 million left in trust by the queen mother. Diana's will allowed her sons the option of dividing the estate differently. It's possible William may arrange for more of their mom's estate to go to Harry because the likely future king will earn many millions more than Harry.

                                                                                                                             

.Culled from
Newser