Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Prince Philip's will to be secret for 90 years
BBC News ^ | Sep 16 | By Joseph Lee

Posted on 09/16/2021 12:15:42 PM PDT by RandFan

The Duke of Edinburgh's will is to remain secret for at least 90 years to protect the "dignity and standing" of the Queen, the High Court has ruled.

It has been convention for over a century that, after the death of a senior member of the Royal Family, the courts are asked to seal their wills.

It means that, unlike most wills granted probate, it will not be open to public inspection.

There will be a private process in 90 years to decide if it can be unsealed.

The hearing into the application to seal the will was also held in private in July by Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior judge in the family courts.

He heard arguments from lawyers representing the duke's estate and the attorney general, the government's chief legal adviser, and published his ruling on Thursday.

Sir Andrew said that as president of the Family Division of the High Court, he is the custodian of a safe containing more than 30 envelopes, each containing the sealed will of a dead member of the Royal Family.

And for the first time in more than 100 years, he set out a process by which those wills could be made public.

Sir Andrew said: "I have held that, because of the constitutional position of the Sovereign, it is appropriate to have a special practice in relation to royal wills.

"There is a need to enhance the protection afforded to truly private aspects of the lives of this limited group of individuals in order to maintain the dignity of the Sovereign and close members of her family."

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: princephilip; princephilipwill; will
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last
Can anyone guess why they do this? Perhaps there are obscure people who are beneficiaries and they don't want the public to know...

Maybe because of the sums involved could cause a backlash?

1 posted on 09/16/2021 12:15:42 PM PDT by RandFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RandFan

In 90 years the British monarchy will have been replaced by a caliphate.


2 posted on 09/16/2021 12:17:21 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Something embarrassing in it ???

A legacy to an illegitimate child or to an old mistress etc ???


3 posted on 09/16/2021 12:17:50 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

So I can’t tell anybody that Phil willed me his grill? That bites.


4 posted on 09/16/2021 12:17:52 PM PDT by decal (MOLON JABE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

I’m guessing secret children.

The male royals are not known for the fidelity.


5 posted on 09/16/2021 12:20:07 PM PDT by Jonty30 (My superpower is setting people up for failure, without meaning to. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

And the population of the Earth will be maintained at 500 million.


6 posted on 09/16/2021 12:20:07 PM PDT by Rebelbase (The difference between animals and humans: animals would never let the dumbest of the herd lead them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RandFan
Can anyone guess why they do this? Perhaps there are obscure people who are beneficiaries and they don't want the public to know...

Because the royals don't like scrutiny into their business and the law says they don't have to experience it. Apparantly it's normal for them to do this and has been for a long time, not a special case for Prince Phillip.

7 posted on 09/16/2021 12:20:53 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

That was my guess too, even if not in this case. Certainly there is an historical record of it that drives this ‘tradition’.


8 posted on 09/16/2021 12:25:25 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Some animals are more equal than others.


9 posted on 09/16/2021 12:26:20 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy." ― Mao Zedong)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Some of the conspiracy groups think that the international drug trade is run by the Queen (and perhaps Henry Kissinger too). Maybe Philip had sole ownership of a Cartel in Columbia and maybe if left it to Harry.


10 posted on 09/16/2021 12:26:38 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (China is like the Third Reich. We are Mussolini's Italy. A weaker, Jr partner, good at losing wars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

Could be. Some people now refer to London as “Londonistan” due to the great influx of Muslims.


11 posted on 09/16/2021 12:27:09 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44

There is also the matter of him supporting fascists, until they declared war against Britain.


12 posted on 09/16/2021 12:27:30 PM PDT by Jonty30 (My superpower is setting people up for failure, without meaning to. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

What happens at Windsor, stays at Windsor.


13 posted on 09/16/2021 12:28:27 PM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

I am not sure how that would have anything to do with his will, but ok.


14 posted on 09/16/2021 12:29:19 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Because they can.


15 posted on 09/16/2021 12:29:52 PM PDT by discostu (Like a dog being shown a card trick )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tennessee Nana

Illegitimate children.

Mistress/es.

Male lovers.

Inheritance tax avoidance.

They’re saying it’s to protect Liz’s dignity.

Snort.


16 posted on 09/16/2021 12:30:17 PM PDT by mewzilla (Those aren't masks. They're muzzles. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

Wonder if the Harkles have anything to do with it...


17 posted on 09/16/2021 12:31:27 PM PDT by mewzilla (Those aren't masks. They're muzzles. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: RandFan
Perhaps there are obscure people who are beneficiaries and they don't want the public to know... Maybe because of the sums involved could cause a backlash?

All of those, for both personal reasons as individuals and to protect the interests of the Crown in its official capacity.

18 posted on 09/16/2021 12:32:03 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

That’s the thing it must be something bad...


19 posted on 09/16/2021 12:36:18 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

Well, one could speculate that this happens. Nobody wants to say it out loud, but would not be shocking to hear that there were secret women in the lives of the royal males.

Then to think of that, it makes me laugh a bit to see Prince Harry. He was in a position in which he could have a selection of women that us mere mortals could only dream of. And he chose Meghan Markle, for some reason.......


20 posted on 09/16/2021 12:36:51 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson