(London) The British judiciary rejected, on Friday, the newspaper’s appeal Watchman who challenged the media’s exclusion from a hearing after deciding to seal the last wishes of Prince Philip, Elizabeth II’s husband who died in 2021.
Posted at 6:23 am
More than a century ago, after the death of a prominent member of the British royal family, a request must be made to the head of the family division of the High Court of London that the deceased’s last wishes should be made. stamped.
In September, justice ordered the closure of Prince Philip’s 90-year will in order to protect the “dignity” of the Queen, during a secret hearing in which the media was unable to participate.
Watchman He challenged the exclusion of the media before the Court of Appeal, considering it a “serious interference with the principle of transparent justice.”
But the judges decided on Friday that this was not a case that “requires fairness to inform the media of the hearing,” citing “exceptional” circumstances and fear of a “media storm.”
“The hearing took place at a very sensitive time for the king and her family, and these interests would not have been protected had there been lengthy hearings reported in the press,” the appeals court considered.
According to the left-wing daily, the call drew attention to “the secrecy surrounding a mysterious exemption granted to the royal family.”
The wills of more than 30 members of the monarchy have been kept secret since 1910, according to the newspaper, while British law says everyone’s last wishes must be made public, particularly to prevent fraud and notify beneficiaries.
Prince Consort with record longevity, the Duke of Edinburgh died on 9 April 2021 at the age of 99.
