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| Secret royal wills to be reviewed | Secret royal wills to be reviewed |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The century-old practice of keeping royal wills secret is to be reviewed by a panel which includes senior judges. | The century-old practice of keeping royal wills secret is to be reviewed by a panel which includes senior judges. |
| The working group has been set up by Sir Mark Potter, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, and it will also look at the rules of will-making. | The working group has been set up by Sir Mark Potter, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, and it will also look at the rules of will-making. |
| One potential claimant, Jersey accountant Robert Brown who believes he is Princess Margaret's son, has already tried to have her will unsealed. | One potential claimant, Jersey accountant Robert Brown who believes he is Princess Margaret's son, has already tried to have her will unsealed. |
| The panel is expected to report by the end of 2010. | The panel is expected to report by the end of 2010. |
| Since 1911, with the exception of Diana, Princess of Wales, the wills of members of the Royal Family have been officially sealed and not open to public inspection. | Since 1911, with the exception of Diana, Princess of Wales, the wills of members of the Royal Family have been officially sealed and not open to public inspection. |
| The Royal Family have so little privacy as it is, I don't think we should be able to see the details Hugo Vickers Historian | The Royal Family have so little privacy as it is, I don't think we should be able to see the details Hugo Vickers Historian |
| They were sealed to conceal that Queen Mary's brother, Prince Frank of Teck, had left jewels to a mistress. | They were sealed to conceal that Queen Mary's brother, Prince Frank of Teck, had left jewels to a mistress. |
| Royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers said the covenant extended to "all sorts of obscure people". | Royal historian and biographer Hugo Vickers said the covenant extended to "all sorts of obscure people". |
| While acknowledging they were a good source of information, he said it was already possible to find out how much money was left. | While acknowledging they were a good source of information, he said it was already possible to find out how much money was left. |
| "The Royal Family have so little privacy as it is, I don't think we should be able to see the details," he said. | "The Royal Family have so little privacy as it is, I don't think we should be able to see the details," he said. |
| "Wills are very personal things and the Royal Family are very open about many things including their finances." | "Wills are very personal things and the Royal Family are very open about many things including their finances." |
| He said while the covenant was introduced to cover-up impropriety, it was wrong to assume the wills of more recent royals might reveal similarly lurid details. | He said while the covenant was introduced to cover-up impropriety, it was wrong to assume the wills of more recent royals might reveal similarly lurid details. |
| "The Queen Mother left everything she had to the Queen as she is the only person who doesn't have to pay inheritance tax," he said. | "The Queen Mother left everything she had to the Queen as she is the only person who doesn't have to pay inheritance tax," he said. |
| If the wills were to made public, he said the Royal Family might opt, like a number of famous people, to leave a letter for their executors, which does not have to be published. | If the wills were to made public, he said the Royal Family might opt, like a number of famous people, to leave a letter for their executors, which does not have to be published. |
| Legal challenges | Legal challenges |
| Mr Brown, who believes he could be the son of the princess and Group Captain Peter Townsend, wants to check the wills of both the late princess and of the Queen Mother. | Mr Brown, who believes he could be the son of the princess and Group Captain Peter Townsend, wants to check the wills of both the late princess and of the Queen Mother. |
| He has already had one challenge turned down but he has appealed and hopes to have a full hearing later this year. | He has already had one challenge turned down but he has appealed and hopes to have a full hearing later this year. |
| Mr Brown was born on 5 January 1955 in Nairobi, Kenya, but his birth was not registered until 2 February. | Mr Brown was born on 5 January 1955 in Nairobi, Kenya, but his birth was not registered until 2 February. |
| The birth certificate gives the date he was born as 4 June 1955. | The birth certificate gives the date he was born as 4 June 1955. |
| He also believes a mystery Privy Council meeting was held on the day he was born. | He also believes a mystery Privy Council meeting was held on the day he was born. |
| It was later that year Princess Margaret called off her wedding to Group Captain Townsend, a divorced father-of-two. | |
| Mr Brown says his wish to inspect the royal wills was driven by his desire to know his parentage. | Mr Brown says his wish to inspect the royal wills was driven by his desire to know his parentage. |