Lord Robert Fellowes was Princess Diana’s brother-in-law. Indeed, he was married to Lady Jane Spencer, Diana’s sister. This made Lord Fellowes Prince William and Prince Harry’s uncle.
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In July 2024, Lord Fellowes sadly passed away at 82. Both princes attended his funeral, but other guests claimed neither brother spoke to the other and that they kept their distance. That being said, thanks to Lord Fellowes' role as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, he was close to both princes.
Almost a year after his passing, his final will has been revealed. This means that the beneficiaries of his estate and £1.5 million fortune have finally been named. The question is, have Prince William and Prince Harry inherited anything from their uncle?
Lord Robert Fellowes leaves out Prince William and Prince Harry
The short answer to the question above is: no. Lord Fellowes has not left any of his fortune to Prince William and Prince Harry. Instead, according to the Daily Mail, he has left almost everything to his widowed wife, Lady Jane.
Per court documents, Lord Fellowes left his £1,517,053 net fortune to his wife. Baroness Fellowes and her son, Alexander, were named as executors of his estate. Lord Robert’s final will, which was made in June 2012, per the Daily Mail, states that any income made from his estate shall be passed to Lady Jane.
Moreover, Lord Fellowes requested that his estate should also be used to support his wider family for their ‘advancement and benefit generally’. This does not include Prince William or Prince Harry.
Instead, it will benefit his wife, their three children — Eleanor, Alexander, and Laura — their descendants, and their spouses.
Lord Robert Fellowes also left cash gifts
Not only did Lord Robert Fellowes leave almost his entire fortune to his widowed wife, but he also gave cash gifts to some friends and charities.
According to Hello!, Andrew Grange, a resident of Snettisham, received £1,000. Lord Fellowes also donated £1,000 to Tapping House Hospice in West Snettisham.
St Mary’s Church, where Lord Fellowes' funeral was held, received £500, while the Rhodes Trust, an international scholarship operated by Oxford University, was given £1,000. Finally, the Provost and Fellows of Eton College also received £5,000.
Who is Lord Robert Fellowes?
Lord Robert Fellowes worked for the late Queen Elizabeth. Lord Fellowes became Queen Elizabeth’s Private Secretary between 1990 and 1999, which is considered a particularly difficult time for the late Queen, as three of her four children were going through divorces, and there was also a fire at Windsor Castle.
Lord Fellowes was also the Queen's trusted counsel following the death of his sister-in-law, Diana, in Paris in August 1997.
As Lord Robert was Prince William and Prince Harry’s uncle, they reportedly spent many holidays together.
Another link between Lord Robert and the late Queen Elizabeth: the latter was born in Sandringham in 1941. Then-Princess Elizabeth was present at the estate—she was just five years old.
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Sources used:
Daily Mail: ‘Prince William and Prince Harry's uncle Lord Fellowes leaves behind astonishing sum in his will after his death aged 82 - but neither royal will get a penny’
Hello!: ‘Prince Harry and Prince William's uncle leaves staggering fortune in will — main beneficiary named’
