The legacy of some emeralds, the trigger for the will of Philip of Edinburgh to be secret for 90 years

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When Philip of Greece and Denmark married the then princess in 1947 Isabel de Windsor the couple became one of the most mediatic of the time since five years later she was crowned queen after the death of her father, King George VI. At that time, Elizabeth II asked only one thing of her husband, a handsome fairytale prince, with blond hair, 1.83 in height and relatives linked to the Nazis: “I’m only asking for loyalty, not loyalty.”

And he paid attention to him. I represented the monarchy with sobriety and between their sheets they got lady Penny Brabourne, the Duchess of Abercorn (also a lover of her uncle Louis Mountbatten), the actress Pat Kirkwood, singer Hlne Cordet and the socialiteMagdalena Nelson de Blaquier, among many. There were rumors of illegitimate children and homosexual relationships. But so far nothing proven. His death, at the age of 99 last April, took away countless secrets.

And we will have to wait more, as Judge Andrew McFarlane of the High Court of Great Britain has ruled that the will of Philip of Edinburgh is kept private for 90 years in a safe with the intention of safeguard the dignity of Elizabeth II, who is currently the longest-lived monarch on the planet. When the time comes, it will be judged whether it is necessary to make public these last provisions that set a precedent with the death in 1910 of Francis of Teck, father of the future Queen Mara, wife of Jorge V, grandfather of Isabel II.

Many are already wondering what do those pages contain because as Michael L. Nash published in the book Royal Wills in Britain from 1509 to 2008, Francisco was such a womanizer that he bequeathed some of the most valuable emeralds from his treasure to his lover, the Countess of Kilmorey. These jewels were Mara de Teck’s favorites.

Throughout history only one exception has been made and it was with lady Di, since after his death in 1997 he was not part of the royal family. His sons, Princes William and Henry, inherited £ 21 million (£ 11.9 million after paying taxes), as well as valuable jewels of diamonds and other precious stones that have worn countless times Kate Middleton y Meghan Markle.

Some British media have published that Elizabeth II has been able to inherit between 10 and 30 million pounds since in this way it is legally avoided to pay the inheritance tax.