Judge Orders Prince Philip's Will Be Sealed to Protect Royal ‘Dignity' of Queen
The judge stressed that he had not seen or been told of the contents of the will
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AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File
FILE – In this June 8, 2015 file photo, Britain’s Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, smiles after unveiling a plaque at the end of his visit to Richmond Adult Community College in Richmond, south west London.
A judge ruled Thursday that the will of the late Prince Philip should remain secret to protect the “dignity” of his widow Queen Elizabeth II, who is Britain’s head of state.
Philip died in April at the age of 99 after more than seven decades of marriage to the queen.
Wills are usually public documents in Britain, but for almost a century it has been customary for the wills of senior royals to be sealed on the order of the High Court.
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Judge Andrew McFarlane said Philip’s will should be sealed for 90 years. After that, it can be be opened in private and consideration given to whether it should be published.
“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,” McFarlane said in a written judgment. “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.”
The judge stressed that he had not seen or been told of the contents of the will.
McFarlane said that as president of the High Court’s family division, he is custodian of a safe which holds 30 envelopes, each containing the sealed will of a deceased royal, including the late Queen Mother Elizabeth and the current queen’s sister, Princess Margaret. Both died in 2002.
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Pall Bearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh into St George’s Chapel for his funeral, as members of the royal family including Princess Anne, right, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William and Sir Tim Laurence follow, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Members of a military band march into the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday, April 17, 2021 ahead of the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Officers of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive for the Gun Salute for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Members of the military during the procession ahead of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Members of the Royal family, led by Prince Charles, center left, and Princess Anne, center right, follow behind the coffin of Britain’s Prince Philip in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021 ahead of the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Chris Jackson/Pool via AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge looks out from a car window as she arrives for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Chris Jackson/Pool via AP
From left, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince Charles and Princess Anne arrive after walking in a procession behind the coffin of Prince Philip, with other members of the Royal family during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Alastair Grant/Pool via AP
From front left, Britain’s Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew. Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon and Tim Laurence follow the coffin in a ceremonial procession for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
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Britain’s Prince Charles follows the coffin as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
Leon Neal/Pool via AP
Britain’s Prince Charles, from front left, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew. Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon, Tim Laurence and Queen Elizabeth II, in car at rear, follow the coffin as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
Family members follow the coffin arriving at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Leon Neal/Pool via AP
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II follows the coffin in a car as it makes it’s way past the Round Tower during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England Saturday April 17, 2021.
Paul Edwards/Pool via AP
Prince Charles with other family members follows the coffin during a procession arriving at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Victoria Jones/Pool via AP
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry walk in the procession, ahead of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
The coffin arrives at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Hannah McKay/Pool via AP
Prince Charles follows the coffin of his father Britain’s Prince Philip during the funeral inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
AP Photo/Rui Vieira
People observe a minute’s silence for Britain’s Prince Philip at Piccadilly Circus in London Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died Friday April 9 aged 99. His funeral service is taking place at St. George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle Saturday.
Arthur Edwards/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried up the steps of St George’s Chapel during the procession of Britain Prince Philip’s funeral at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Justin Tallis/Pool via AP
The coffin arrives at St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
Members of the Royal Family watch as thhe coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via AP
The coffin is carried inside the St George’s Chapel for the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP
Britain’s Prince William, left, and Prince Harry follow the coffin as it slowly makes its way in a ceremonial procession during the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021.
In the years that followed, a man who claimed to be Margaret’s illegitimate son, Robert Brown, fought a failed court battle to have both wills unsealed in order to seek evidence for his claim.
The judge said that while there might be “public curiosity” about royal wills, “there is no true public interest in the public knowing this wholly private information.”
The ruling came after a court hearing in July that was held in private. Media organizations were not allowed to make the case for publishing the will.
