Little girls now have a new role model in Kate Middleton, the popular soon-to-be princess of Britain. But unlike the fairy tale fantasy depicted in Cinderella and Snow White, real-life princesses face budgets, money awkwardness, and financial stress. Here are a few of the money challenges Middleton will face as she navigates her new royal title:
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Who will pay for the wedding?
While tradition dictates that the bride's family usually foots most of the wedding bill, expense-sharing becomes more complicated when you're marrying the future King of England. Royal officials have announced that Middleton will marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey on Friday, April 29; the high security demanded by the venue is only the beginning of the additional expenses. According to the official website of the British Monarchy, "The Royal Family will pay for the wedding, following the precedents set by the marriages of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981 and Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947."
The AP reports that the Middleton family will contribute to the costs, as well, and that the public might be on the hook for security, but little else. Meanwhile, a survey by the Daily Mail found that 82 percent of respondents believe the Royal Family should pay almost all of the wedding expenses, and not taxpayers.
Will Middleton have any of her own money?
Kate Middleton: The Princess and Her Budget
