William and Harry’s Uncle Left a Multimillion-Dollar Inheritance—But Not a Penny for Them

Prince William and Prince Harry, often seen as central figures in Britain’s modern monarchy, were not included in the will of their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, whose estate was valued at just over £1.5 million (approx. $1.9 million USD).

Yet despite these connections, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales did not receive any inheritance from their maternal uncle’s estate, according to probate records released this month.

Legal documents confirm that the entire estate was passed on to his wife, Lady Jane, with the exception of a few modest donations. Among the bequests were:
£1,000 (approx. $1,270 USD) to a local hospice
£500 (approx. $635 USD) to St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, where his memorial was held
£5,000 (approx. $6,350 USD) to Eton College
£1,000 (approx. $1,270 USD) to estate handyman Andrew Grange
The rest of the estate, totaling £1,517,418 (approx. $1,926,125 USD), was left to his spouse.

Brothers attended memorial service but did not speak
Both Prince William and Prince Harry were present at their uncle’s memorial service in Norfolk last August – their first joint appearance in months amid ongoing tensions between the brothers.

The service was held at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, a village where Lord Fellowes was highly regarded. According to Reverend Dan Tansley, who officiated the memorial, “It was a lovely service and there were a lot of people who wanted to be there for someone who was really well-respected in the village.

It was only as I was greeting the congregation on the way out that Prince William was shaking my hand, and then very quickly after Prince Harry did too.”

While the brothers were in attendance, reports suggest there was no interaction between the two.

“I don’t recollect them speaking to each other,” Reverend Tansley said, though he added that the presence of both men “would have meant a lot to Lord Robert… because I know both he and his auntie love them both very much.”

Lord Fellowes had a distinguished career within the royal household, serving as the Queen’s private secretary throughout the 1990s – a period of personal and institutional upheaval for the monarchy.

While his decision to leave his estate entirely to his wife follows common estate planning practices, the omission of his royal nephews has drawn attention given their close family ties.

The revelation comes at a time when relations between William and Harry remain strained, further highlighted by their distant behavior at the service. Despite the exclusion, the legacy of Lord Fellowes remains one of discretion and loyalty – values that defined his decades of service to the Crown.