The Royal Collection has been described as a collection of collections. Most monarchs were collectors and those collections have accumulated to become the nucleus of the Royal Collection today. (The Philatelic Collection is privately owned by the Queen I believe.) So that is the basis. I believe that these days, official gifts go to the Royal Collection, and any items specifically designated to go to it are included.
I have long believed that the processes of computer cataloguing over the last twenty to thirty years have aided the business of clarifying "ownerships".
Royals have always owned private property, and indeed, the catalogue for furniture for the auction of Princess Margaret's property was fascinating in the detail it showed of various labels attached for previous owners.
It is quite correct that the Royal Collection has included private property in exhibitions and publications, with permission. And further, an RCIN on an item on its website does not "prove" ownership by the Royal Collection.
--Previous Message-- : Regarding the Royal Collection. : I think it is relevant to make a couple of : points. : I personally have no idea of precisely what : is considered part of the Royal Collection, : except for some major category of items - : even so, not all such items will form part : of the Royal Collection. I think there is a : great deal of public confusion about what is : in the Royal Collection. : I believe that the Royal Collection has : mounted exhibitions and published books on : items which are not strictly part of that : collection. For example, Roberts' book was : published by the Royal Collection : Publications. I believe that most of the : jewels mentioned in the book are private : property. : 1. The Royal Collection site makes it clear : that The Queen, as sovereign, holds items in : the Royal Collection in trust for her : successors and for the nation. HM The Queen : does not own these items as a private : individual. : : http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/about/frequently-asked-questions : 2. As I understand matters, the paintings, : furniture, silver, gold plate and other : items in the Royal Collection have always : been considered as something owned and : passed from one monarch to the next. For : example, when Edward VIII abdicated, he did : not attempt to assert ownership of : furniture, paintings, silver etc in : Buckingham Palace or Windsor castle as his. : He did, however, assert his ownership of : Balmoral and Sandringham, and took : furniture, paintings, gemstones etc : considered to be his with him, and I have : never read of any dispute regarding those : items. : Much of the Royal Collection has been : acquired by individual monarchs and their : spouses with private money, especially after : the Crown Estates were given into the care : of the government at the start of each reign : in return for Civil List monies. I believe : that various monarch (and their spouses) : have indicated what should be private and : what should be part of the pool of royal : heirlooms. : My thinking is partially influenced by : having seen information in the auction : catalogue of Princess Margaret's : possessions. Some of the notes contained : information - that there were identification : notes on some items of furniture showing : that they belonged to her father and then to : her etc. To me that suggests that the royals : keep an account of what is considered : private property, which is theirs to : bequeath, give as a gift or sell, as they : wish. : 3 With regard to jewellery, I believe that : anything which is not considered as : belonging to the Crown is private property, : which can be disposed of freely, in the same : way as any private individual can sell, : donate, or bequeath their property. : For the government or others to suggest : otherwise would be a breach of fundamental : rights to private property under English : Common Law, a cornerstone of English rights. : If The Queen should make other dispositions : for private property in her possession, then : no doubt information will be forthcoming. By : this I mean if HM should put jewels into : something like a foundation. : 4. When The Queen said in the 1990s that she : would pay tax on her private income, I : believe the announcement left it open to : argue that items willed to her by her mother : or from her to her successor as monarch : could be subject to inheritance taxes and : that what we are told is the current : arrangement with the government was : instituted so that the royal inheritance was : not diminished. : 4. The present situation, where it is said : in the press that The Queen has lent people, : such as the Duchess of Cornwall, various : items of valuable jewellery is, I think, a : manifestation of the agreement with the : government, which is designed to ensure that : the dignity of the Crown can be upheld for : the nation. : 5. I know some will mention the issue of : valuable gifts given to Royals in the course : of their visits to other countries as a : representative of the UK. I think the : argument is that such gifts were not given : privately to the individual, but as a : representative of the UK, as was jewellery : given to Margaret Thatcher by one foreign : government. : 6 Needless to say, I am giving only my : opinion, and accept that there is : insufficient public information to make : anything more than an educated guess, but my : educated guess is that HM holds the vast : majority of her jewellery as private : property. : :
on October 9, 2014, 4:42 am, in reply to "