King Charles' cousin - famous furniture maker David Linley - has walked away from the company he set up 40 years ago in a surprise move.
The 61-year-old Earl of Snowdon, who was 5th in line to the throne when he was born, resigned on Friday as director of three businesses - David Linley Holdings, David Linley & Co and David Linley Furniture according to Companies House.
The Earl, whose mother was Princess Margaret, the late Queen's sister, started a carpentry workshop above a chip shop in Dorking, Surrey, in 1982.
Among his famous clients were Sir Elton John, Sir Mick Jagger and fashion designer Valentino and his mother Princess Margaret and grandmother The Queen Mother, were among his biggest fans.
When Princess Margaret, who died in 2002, was asked by the then Prime Minister Jim Callaghan why her son had become a carpenter, she replied: "Christ was a carpenter".
Documents filed to Companies House show that in June, David Linley Holdings reported a £171,000 pre-tax profit – a huge recovery from the previous year when the business sustained a £2.4million loss during the pandemic.
However, the company still had net liabilities of £4.25million.
As he built up his fortune, wealthy clients included Sir Elton John, Sir Mick Jagger and fashion designer Valentino.
It is not clear why he quit the business he set up or why he chose to walk away now.
The Earl is now 24th in line to the throne and the first who is not a direct descendant of the late Queen Elizabeth.
The line of Succession
SOVEREIGN
1. The Prince of Wales
2. Prince George of Wales
3. Princess Charlotte of Wales
4. Prince Louis of Wales
5. The Duke of Sussex
6. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
7. Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor
8. The Duke of York
9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi
11. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank
12. Master August Brooksbank
13. The Earl of Wessex
14. Viscount Severn
15. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
16. The Princess Royal
17. Mr. Peter Phillips
18. Miss Savannah Phillips
19. Miss Isla Phillips
20. Mrs. Michael Tindall
21. Miss Mia Tindall
22. Miss Lena Tindall
23. Master Lucas Tindall