Prince Philip's Will to Be Kept Private for 90 Years

For royal family wills, it is tradition that the courts are asked to seal the documents from public viewing. Prince Philip's will is no exception, and Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior judge in the family courts, just ruled that the will is to be sealed for 90 years.

In 90 years, there is set to be another hearing to decide if the document should be unsealed. In the hearings, McFarlane heard arguments from the duke's estate and the attorney general, the government's chief legal adviser. He gave his ruling on September 16, 2021, concluding that the will should be kept private, to "maintain the dignity" of Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family.

"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," Sir Andrew said, per BBC. "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."