A decide dominated on Thursday that the late Prince Philip’s will to guard the “dignity” of his widow Queen Elizabeth II, who’s Britain’s head of state, should stay a secret.
Philip died in April on the age of 99, after greater than seven a long time of marriage to the Queen.
Wills are normally public paperwork within the UK, however for nearly a century there was a apply of sealing the wills of senior royals on High Court orders.
Judge Andrew MacFarlane mentioned Philip’s will ought to be sealed for 90 years. After that, it may be opened privately and it may be thought of whether or not it ought to be revealed or not.
The judgment in The Will of His Late Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh can now be discovered on-line. https://t.co/fiZhiz0v0v
— Judiciary Office (@JudiciaryUK) September 16, 2021
MacFarlane mentioned in a written ruling, “I have held that, because of the constitutional position of the Sovereign, it is appropriate to make a special exercise with respect to the Royal Will.” “There is a need to increase the protection given to the truly private aspects of the life of this limited group of individuals in order to uphold the dignity of the sovereign and his close family members.”
The decide insisted that he had not seen or informed the contents of the need.
The decide mentioned that whereas there could also be “public curiosity” in regards to the royal will, “there is no real public interest in the public to know this completely private information.” (AP photograph/file)
MacFarlane mentioned that as chairman of the High Court’s household division, he’s the custodian of a vault containing 30 envelopes, every containing the sealed will of the deceased royal, together with the late Queen Elizabeth and the present Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret. Are included. Both died in 2002.
In the years that adopted, a person who claimed to be Margaret’s illegitimate son, Robert Brown, fought an unsuccessful courtroom battle to seal each wills to hunt proof for his declare.
The decide mentioned that whereas there could also be “public curiosity” in regards to the royal will, “there is no real public interest in the public to know this completely private information.”
The resolution got here after a courtroom listening to in July that was performed privately. Media organizations weren’t allowed to make a case for publishing the need.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
