Princess Margaret (1930-2002), & her family

[Carolath Habsburg]

Wanst Peter Townsend the supposed father of this guy?. Why that note says it was Robin Douglas home?

Im confused.

[RoyalWatcher]

How does this man think seeing Princess Margaret's sealed will is going to help his case?  Surely only DNA testing would prove his claims and as if anyone from the Royal Family is going to provide that!

My thoughts exactly, Grace. I'm really surprised that the court system in the UK allowed him access based on what really?!? Very strange. Or, is the motive hiding in plain sight...no more sealed Last Will and Testaments of the Royal Family?

[Kalafrana]

I think the latter.

Ann

[CountessKate]

I think the latter.

Ann

The Guardian reports that in fact Mr Brown has not actually won the right to see Princess Margaret's will, but only to seek judicial review of the refusal to allow him access under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to documents which he states show there was a secret judicial process for sealing royal wills: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/19/princess-margaret-robert-brown-illegitimate-son-high-court-ruling. The High Court pretty much endorses the view that Mr Brown is a nutcase, but clearly the both relatively modern and decidedly dodgy practice of keeping royal wills sealed is coming under pressure as RoyalWatcher and Ann rightly observe.  But there is still quite a way to go before Mr Brown gets his mitts on his alleged mum's will.

[Kalafrana]

No problem. I'm perfectly well aware that all that has happened is that Mr Brown has been given permission to apply for judicial review. For non-lawyers, this is a process  by which the courts consider the legality, but not the merits, of the actions of an executive body, here the decision to refuse Mr Brown access to Princess Margaret's will.  Given the very limited separation of powers we have in the British constitution, judicial review is an essential check on potential abuse of power by the executive.

Ann

[grandduchessella]

How does this man think seeing Princess Margaret's sealed will is going to help his case?  Surely only DNA testing would prove his claims and as if anyone from the Royal Family is going to provide that!

My thoughts exactly, Grace. I'm really surprised that the court system in the UK allowed him access based on what really?!? Very strange. Or, is the motive hiding in plain sight...no more sealed Last Will and Testaments of the Royal Family?

Bingo. That was the first thing I thought. I was further convinced upon reading the judge's comments that said the case gave rise to important points of principle and practice for open justice and the public interest. They related to how the courts dealt with statutory provisions and rules "in relation to a particular class of litigant".

[grandduchessella]

Wanst Peter Townsend the supposed father of this guy?. Why that note says it was Robin Douglas home?

Im confused.

He claims it could be either man.

[rosieposie]

An article about Robert Brown,  his early life and why he suggests he is the child of Margaret.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549146/The-TRUTH-man-claims-hes-Margarets-love-child-After-10-year-fight-middle-aged-accountant-says-hes-brink-proving-hes-royal-heir-But-heres-real-story.html

[Kalafrana]

I have always thought this an inherently unlikely tale.

Also, his 'legal victory' is only that he is able to appeal against a previous court decision not to allow him access to the will. This does not mean that he will actually get access. In any event, the will is extremely unlikely to contain anything that will assist his claims.

Ann

[rosieposie]

I think what is amusing is that he said the royals have something to hide because the royals are contesting to Robert Brown's actions.   Margaret's will is something for the royal family to know and not the public.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

A person's will, whether royal or not, should be private and concern only the Executor(s), Benefitiaries and Lawyers.

When was this person born?
I am old enough to remember Princess Margaret from 1947 on - when she went to South Africa with her family.  The press and media of the day was constantly photographing her (she was the Diana and Kate of her day) and one always noticed her tiny waist in the fashionable clothes then.
She walked down the aisle in 1960 with that same small waistline;  and so, I would venture that she never had a baby between 1947 and 1960.

This guy is a fake...

Larry

[HerrKaiser]

Hi,

A person's will, whether royal or not, should be private and concern only the Executor(s), Benefitiaries and Lawyers.

When was this person born?
I am old enough to remember Princess Margaret from 1947 on - when she went to South Africa with her family.  The press and media of the day was constantly photographing her (she was the Diana and Kate of her day) and one always noticed her tiny waist in the fashionable clothes then.
She walked down the aisle in 1960 with that same small waistline;  and so, I would venture that she never had a baby between 1947 and 1960.

This guy is a fake...

Larry

I agree with you Larry. He is probably a fake and where is the 9-12 month gap in Princess Margaret's schedule when she would have gone unnoticed?

Also, point of reference in the USA, Wills are, in fact, public record.

[rosieposie]

In the Daily Mail,  they said the royal wills are kept secret from public eye ever since one of the princes had left a large amount of jewellery to a mistress in a will.   

[grandduchessella]

In the Daily Mail,  they said the royal wills are kept secret from public eye ever since one of the princes had left a large amount of jewellery to a mistress in a will.   

They've been closed since Queen Mary maneuvered it to keep her brother Frank's will (and any bequests to his mistress) out of the public eye. After that, it became the norm. I think some were still published but very few--I believe some of the Duchess of Connaught's will was released in the press.

[Превед]

They've been closed since Queen Mary maneuvered it to keep her brother Frank's will (and any bequests to his mistress) out of the public eye. After that, it became the norm.

Ach, those Germans with their notions of fürstliches Privatrecht!