On July 29, 2022, The Guardian lost a lawsuit challenging the decision to exclude the press from hearings about the contents of Prince Philip’s will. The judges — Sir Geoffrey Vos, Dame Victoria Sharp, and Lady Justice King — stated that the reasons for keeping the proceedings private were due to “exceptional circumstances.” They predicted having the press at the hearings would not be possible "without risking the media storm that was feared."
When Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, he left behind his worldly wealth. Naturally, a will would dictate how the late prince wanted this to be distributed. The Daily Mail reported that three of his personal aides would receive significant amounts of money, his grandchildren would have trust funds, and the rest would be left to the Queen. But since the will is private, this information is not verified.
The Daily Mail also reports he left behind an estate worth around $42 million. This is surprising, because at one time Philip was known as the “pauper prince” for living off his naval salary and allowance from his uncle, Lord Mountbatten. However, he inherited huge sums of money after being named the Duke of Edinburgh.
The British High Court ruled behind closed courtroom doors without the media present that the contents of the will could remain secret for 99 years. This was done in order to “protect the dignity and standing of the Queen.” Former wills of the royal family have also been kept private, so there is precedent. The Guardian decided to challenge the exclusion of the media from these proceedings but ultimately lost.
Prince Philip was born on June 10, 1921, on the Greek island of Corfu. His parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, making him a prince in both the Greek and Danish royal lines. His family fled Greece after unrest after the Greco-Turkish War. Philip was bounced around to various family members after this. He eventually attended the Royal Naval College. He served in the British Navy during World War II.
Philip first met then Princess Elizabeth in 1939 when her father, King George VI, and mother, Queen Elizabeth, toured the Royal Naval College. Elizabeth and Philip were distant cousins. Elizabeth was interested in Philip, and the pair started a pen-pal relationship.
The relationship grew romantic. Philip renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles. On July 10, 1947, the royal family announced the engagement of Elizabeth and Philip. On November 20, 1947, they were married at Westminster Abbey.
Philip worked as the Queen’s consort for six decades. He and Queen Elizabeth were married for 73 years. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward. Their children would make them grandparents to eight and great-grandparents to 10. Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, at 99 years of age.
