News | Entertainment
1 Jul 2025 12:27
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Prince Philip's will is to remain secret for at least 90 years

    The Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April at the age of 99 but the document detailing his last wishes and the division of his assets will not be made public in order to protect the "dignity" of his wife, Queen Elizabeth, and other members of the royal family, judge Sir Andrew McFarlane ruled on Thursday (16.09.21)


    The judge - who is president of the Family Division of the High Court - has not seen or had the contents of the will disclosed to me other than the date of its ex ecution and the name of its ex ecutor, dec lared a private process can be held after the 90-year period has passed in order to determine if the documents should then be unsealed.

    He wrote: "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."

    The judge held a hearing with lawyers representing Philip's estate and the attorney general, who represented the public interest, in July, which was kept private because it would have generated "very significant publicity and conjecture" that would "defeat the purpose of the application."

    He added: "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."

    It has been customary for almost 100 years for the wills of senior royals to remain sealed and in his position within the family courts, Andrew is said to be custodian of a safe which holds more than 30 sealed wills that belonged to deceased royal family members.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Jun: Kneecap play Glastonbury set amid terrorism charge as police investigate crowd chants
     28 Jun: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Harvey Weinstein cases test the limits and legacy of #MeToo movement
     27 Jun: Charlize Theron's daughter was reduced to tears by her mullet
     27 Jun: Demi Lovato is releasing her first cookbook
     27 Jun: Sharon Osbourne believes that Ozzy Osbourne's fans will "carry him" through Black Sabbath's farewell gig
     27 Jun: John Cena called out a fan for filming him without permission
     27 Jun: Tom Brady is reportedly set to attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's lavish Italian wedding
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Levi Aumua is departing the Crusaders after two Super Rugby seasons More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    China's EV newcomer Xiaomi sells nearly 300,000 SUVs in an hour More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Warriors reserve grade halfback Tanah Boyd's decision to reject an approach to join North Queensland in the NRL looks poised for reward 11:57

    Cricket:
    Proverbial white smoke has emerged from the Australian cricket team's HQ in the Caribbean on their West Indies tour 11:37

    Rugby League:
    Warriors' reserve grade play-maker Tanah Boyd views himself as a logical replacement if halfback Luke Metcalf is ruled out for the NRL season with a knee injury 11:27

    National:
    Trump’s worldview is causing a global shift of alliances – what does this mean for nations in the middle? 11:17

    International:
    Musicians like Abel Selaocoe are broadening classical music to reflect our evolving stories 11:17

    Cricket:
    Black Cap Ish Sodhi's desperate to show his spinning evolution after earning a reprieve under incoming coach Rob Walter 10:47

    Environment:
    Warmer seas are fuelling the dangerous ‘weather bomb’ about to hit NSW 10:37

    National:
    Understanding the ‘Slopocene’: how the failures of AI can reveal its inner workings 10:27

    National:
    Sudan: foreign interests are deepening a devastating war – only regional diplomacy can stop them 10:17

    Law and Order:
    A 31-year-old man's been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a homicide investigation in South Auckland's Otahuhu 10:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd