denotes premium content | May 17 2008 
News
posted 11 Mar 2008
SHROUD OF SECRECY LIFTED FROM ROYAL WILLS
Amidst the furore caused by MPs reluctant to disclose relatives on their payrolls, another door was being opened in the name of transparency. And this one was royal.
Robert Brown, an accountant from
His claim was described by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips in the court of appeal as “scandalous and irrational”. However, it was accepted he had a right to challenge the secret decision, described in court as “unlawful and unconstitutional”, made by Lord Goldsmith and Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss to seal permanently the wills of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, shortly before they died. It transpires that the net value of the Princess’ estate was just over £7.5m
Representing Brown, Geoffrey Robertson QC told the hearing: “This appeal raises important questions as to the circumstances in which wills, in particular those of members of the royal family, can be sealed and hidden from public inspection and the circumstances in which wills which have been sealed can be unsealed.”
