Prince Philip's Will To Remain Sealed For 90 Years To Protect Queen Elizabeth's Dignity

KEY POINTS

Prince Philip died peacefully in his sleep in April
The Family Court ruled that his will be sealed for 90 years
More than 30 envelopes of sealed royal family wills are kept in a safe

A London judge has ruled that the last will of Prince Philip will remain under wraps for at least 90 years to protect the dignity of Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family. Sir Andrew McFarlane of the Family Division of the High Court passed the order Thursday.

In his written judgment, McFarlane said a "private process" should be held after the 90-year period to determine whether the document should finally be unsealed.

“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,” he said.

“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.” Even McFarlane himself has not seen the contents of the will other than the date of its execution and the identity of its appointed executor.

According to McFarlane, he had a hearing with lawyers representing Prince Philip’s estate and the attorney general who represents the public interest because unsealing the will at this time would have generated “very significant publicity and conjecture” that would “defeat the purpose of the application.” The said hearing was held behind closed doors in July.

“I accepted the submission that, whilst there may be public curiosity as to the private arrangements that a member of the Royal Family may choose to make in their will, there is no true public interest in the public knowing this wholly private information,” McFarlane said in his judgment.

It has been a tradition for the wills of senior royals to remain sealed for a long time. Being the most senior judge in the family courts, McFarlane serves as the custodian of a safe that holds more than 30 envelopes that contain the sealed wills of dead royal family members.

Prince Philip died at the age of 99 in his sleep on April 9 at Windsor Castle. A funeral was held for him on April 17.