The late Lord Robert Fellowes was a longtime royal adviser and former private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II. He was married to Lady Jane Fellowes who was Princess Diana’s elder sister. Therefore he was also an uncle to the royal siblings, Prince William and Prince Harry.
He passed away in July 2023 at the age of 82 and left behind an estate valued at just over £1.5 million (approximately $1.9 million USD). Recently, his will and probate records were made public and they have sparked public interest.
It was revealed that neither of his royal nephews received any inheritance.
Lord Fellowes passed the bulk of his estate to his wife, Lady Jane Fellowes. Lord Fellowes also made a handful of charitable donations. These included £1,000 to a local hospital and £5,000 to Eton College. He also left £500 to St Mary’s Church in Snettisham where his memorial service was held. He left £1,000 to his longtime estate handyman.
Lord Fellowes, Princess Diana’s brother-in-law who passed away last year, leaves touching donations in his will (including to his church and school) https://t.co/vXWW1v9sRw pic.twitter.com/Wx8aq1TbCC
— Tatler (@Tatlermagazine) May 22, 2025
The remainder of money and property worth almost £1.5 Million went directly to Lady Jane. This followed the common estate planning practices.
However, the absence of Prince William and Prince Harry from the will has drawn both public attention and media interference. The speculation is especially because of the close family ties.
🆕The Duke of Sussex attended the funeral service for his late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes held in Norfolk yesterday.
Lord Fellowes was married to Princess Diana’s sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, who was pictured with her nephew in June.#PrinceHarry pic.twitter.com/3qHqrCyYca
— ChrisBaronSmith (@ChrisBaronSmit1) August 29, 2024
Both Prince William and Prince Harry attended their uncle’s memorial service in Norfolk. It was held in August 2023. It was one of the rare times when both brothers came together in the public eye after Harry left the royal duties. Those who attended the service could not help but notice the visible emotional distance between both the brothers.
Reverend Dan Tansley led the service at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham. When asked, he recounted their presence with warmth and noted their respectful behavior.
Though he also confirmed what many suspected: “I don’t recollect them speaking to each other.” There was a visible rift between the two brothers that continues to attract international scrutiny.
Harry made a ‘secret’ dash to the UK. The Sun reports that Harry quietly attended his and William’s Uncle Lord Fellowes’ funeral today.
Prince William attended as well, but they allegedly sat at the back of St. Mary’s church, at opposite sides. A source there said they were… pic.twitter.com/jCmaEHd9NN
— Mollie’sMama (@MolliesMama_) August 30, 2024
People have been making assumptions about the internal relationships of the royal family for a very long time now. It started with Charles and Diana’s divorce and led to Harry’s royal exit.
The fact that Lord Fellowes chose not to include both the brothers in his will has further fueled speculation of things not being as they seemed in the royal household.
Lord Robert Fellowes was not just a distant family member to the Royals. He had served as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II during the 1990s. It was a time of both institutional challenges and personal upheavals for the monarchy.
Robert Fellowes’s funeral was held privately days before, it is understood.
A memorial church service was held in his honor this week where all his family and friends were present including Prince William who was seen speaking to family members at the reception afterwards. pic.twitter.com/RfvkTSxI7z
— RoyalWales (@cambridgepower) August 30, 2024
He played a pivotal role during a transformative era. He also helped the family to navigate through divorces, public criticism, and the tragic death of Princess Diana. In recognition of his service, he was granted the title Baron Fellowes in 1999.
Even though he shared close ties with most of the senior royal family members, he remained a background figure. He was known more for his discretion and loyalty than for public attention.
These qualities were part of not only his career but also in his estate planning. All the details of his estate are marked by pragmatism and privacy.
It is interesting to note that the majority of the UK media doesn’t mention that Lord Robert Fellowes was Queen Elizabeth’s Private secretary for nine years. From 1990 to 1999, including 1992, which she deemed her annus horribilius, 1996, when Charles and Diana divorced, and… pic.twitter.com/aK7Y2gOdMr
— Maple Leaf Fields (@FieldsLeaf) August 30, 2024
His decision to exclude Prince William and Prince Harry from the will has stirred a new wave of conversation among the public regarding royals and their familial ties.
Many view the move as a standard legal decision prioritizing the widow’s needs, others interpret it as reflection of deeper familial tensions. There are expectations of certain inheritance even if they are symbolic.
Regardless of this, Lord Fellowes’ legacy will always be about his service and his loyalty to the crown.
