Queen to keep mum's will secret

12 April 2012

The Queen has decided to keep the contents of her mother's £50 million will a secret by invoking the Royal Prerogative.

The Queen Mother's will was expected to be published this week but with the agreement of the Attorney General it will now be kept private.

Most of the estate is expected to pass to the Queen under a deal struck with Prime Minister John Major in 1993, when the Queen agreed to pay income tax. Property passed down from sovereign to sovereign is exempt from tax.

Labour MP Alan Williams, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, said: "They cannot talk about modernisation but hide under ancient rules when it suits them."

No plinth space for Queen Mum
Vote: Should the will be made public?

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