Royal succession reform is being discussed, Clegg says – BBC News

“The government is consulting Commonwealth countries about changing the laws on royal succession, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Royal weddings: time to update the laws of saying ‘I do’? – The Guardian

“Prince William’s forthcoming marriage to Kate Middleton is unlikely to be beset by any legal confusion. But future Windsor weddings could easily be mired in controversy unless there are changes to the law, according to Professor Rebecca Probert from Warwick University, an expert on marriage law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th April 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal Family granted new right of secrecy – The Independent

“The Royal Family is to be granted absolute protection from public scrutiny in a controversial legal reform designed to draw a veil of secrecy over the affairs of the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th January 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prince Charles’s letters to ministers stay secret as appeal is adjourned – The Guardian

“Freedom of information hearing delayed until next year for reasons panel cannot ‘go into.’ ”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal pressure ‘led to FoI ban on disclosure of lobbying by Charles’ – The Guardian

“Guardian to go to tribunal to gain access to letters to ministers, while Act amendments may mean 20-year block on letters.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Romanian prince wins libel battle – Daily Telegraph

“Prince Radu of Romania accepted a public apology and ‘substantia’ damages in the High Court in Londonover ‘extremely grave’ magazine allegations about his title.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th July 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prince of Wales intervention in Chelsea Barracks ‘unwelcome’ says judge – Daily Telegraph

“The Candy Brothers have won their High Court bid to prove Qatari architects were wrong to withdraw plans for the redevelopment of Chelsea Barracks following an intervention by the Prince of Wales.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th June 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Was the News of the World exposé on the Duchess of York justified in law? – The Guardian

“Analysis of whether the News of the World can claim that they had a public interest justification in exposing Sarah Ferguson.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal rules ‘breach human rights’ – Daily Telegraph

“The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) said that laws barring members of the Royal Family from marrying Roman Catholics were contrary to the Convention, while the rule that male heirs take precedence over older sisters in the succession was ‘arguably’ also a breach.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Kate Middleton launches legal action against photographer – The Guardian

“Kate Middleton is pursuing legal action against a photographer who took pictures of her on Christmas Day, a month after the Queen warned the media over publication of paparazzi photographs of the royals.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge questions Queen’s privacy threat – Daily Telegraph

“A senior judge has made comments which call into question whether the Queen and Royal family will be able to stop photographers taking pictures of them going about their private lives.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th December 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prince of Wales could be asked to appear in court over role in Chelsea Barracks row – Daily Telegraph

“The Prince of Wales could be asked to appear in court over his role in helping to block the £3 billion Chelsea Barracks housing scheme designed by Lord Rogers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gordon Brown to push for royal Roman Catholics law change – The Times

“Gordon Brown today sparked controversy on the eve of the Commonwealth summit by suggesting he backs the sweeping away of 300-year-old laws that prevent Roman Catholics ascending to the Throne.”

Full story

The Times, 25th November 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Prince Charles’s architecture foundation could face investigation – The Guardian

“Charity Commission considers whether to launch inquiry after allegations prince has undue influence over direction of Foundation for the Built Environment.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Royal secrets withheld under revised information rules – Independent on Sunday

“Members of the public and journalists will be banned from seeing the contents of secret documents on the Cabinet and Royal Family under measures quietly announced by Gordon Brown last week.”

Full story

Independent on Sunday, 14th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Act of Settlement: a nakedly discriminatory law – The Guardian

“The Act of Settlement of 1701, which bars Catholics from the throne – or marrying the monarch, or princes in the line of succession – has become an increasing source of contention, with a series of attempts to abolish such a nakedly discriminatory law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th March 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Princess Diana letters to government ministers must remain a secret – Daily Telegraph

“Private letters between Princess Diana and the British Government will remain secret after a ruling by the UK’s Information Commissioner.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th February 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judges to review the secrecy of royal wills – The Times

“The Royal Family’s 100-year-old convention that their wills may be kept secret is to be reexamined by senior judges..”

Full story

The Times, 24th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Paper censured for failing to include denial in Diana story – The Guardian

“The former royal butler, Paul Burrell, yesterday accused the News of the World of demonstrating a ‘publish and damn the truth’ mentality after the Press Complaints Commission censured the newspaper over a front-page story that he boasted of having sex with Diana, Princess of Wales. In a ruling published in the News of the World, the commission upheld Burrell’s claim that the newspaper’s failure to include his denial of the story could have misled readers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Constitutional experts rally behind proposals to revoke 300-year-old ban on Catholic monarchs – The Guardian

“Constitutional experts and minority parties yesterday rallied behind proposals to repeal the 300-year bar to Catholics succeeding to the throne and end male precedence in the royal succession.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th September 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Payout over Diana and Dodi photos – BBC News

“A British photographer has been ordered to pay damages to Mohamed Al Fayed for taking pictures of his son Dodi Fayed kissing Princess Diana on his yacht.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th September 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two men guilty of blackmailing royal – The Guardian

“Two men were today jailed for five years each after being found guilty of attempting to blackmail a member of the royal family over gay sex allegations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Swift royal law reforms ruled out – BBC News

“The government has said it has no immediate plans to scrap a 300-year-old law that gives males precedence in the royal line of succession.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Succession and marriage laws will be left unchanged by Bill – The Times

“The Attorney-General’s office has ruled out any legislation that would give equal rights of succession to the throne to daughters of a monarch. Nor will it repeal the law that bans the heir to the throne from marrying a Roman Catholic.”

Full story

The Times, 22nd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Unfair’ royal succession law may be changed – Daily Telegraph

“The law that forces the eldest daughter of a monarch to make way for her younger brother in the succession could be abolished under new equality legislation.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Diana death investigation cost £12.5 million – Daily Telegraph

“The cost of investigating the death of Diana, Princess of Wales has jumped to more than £12.5 million, it was disclosed yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Paying a painfully high cost – The Times

” The inquest of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed was conducted with impeccable good sense and good humour by the coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker. It arrived at the obviously correct result: that the deaths were caused by the grossly negligent driving of the drunken Henri Paul, and the conduct of the chasing pack of journalists. But the law needs amendment to ensure that there is never again such an unnecessary and expensive intrusion into privacy and dignity.”

Full story

The Times, 15th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Royal ‘blackmail victim’ will not appear in court – Daily Telegraph

“The member of the Royal Family at the centre of an alleged £50,000 blackmail plot will not have to enter the witness box.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Al Fayed gives up 10-year bid to prove conspiracy theories – The Independent

” Mohammed Al Fayed announced last night that he was finally giving up his 10-year campaign to prove that his son Dodi and Diana, Princess of Wales, were killed in a conspiracy involving the Royal Family and the secret services.”

Full story

The Independent, 9th April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How Mansfield dominated the Diana inquest – The Guardian

“Michael Mansfield has been just where he likes to be throughout the six month inquest – in the centre of the spotlight. Stephen Bates reviews his latest courtroom performance.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chauffeur and paparazzi to blame for Diana death, jury finds – The Guardian

“Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed by the reckless driving of their chauffeur, Henri Paul, and the paparazzi who chased them, jurors in the inquest into their deaths decided today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Diana coroner to accept majority – BBC News

“The coroner at the inquest into Princess Diana’s death has authorised the jury to return a majority verdict.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Act repeal could make Franz Herzog von Bayern new King of England and Scotland – Daily Telegraph

“Gordon Brown is considering repealing the 1701 Act of Settlement as a way of healing a historic injustice by ending the prohibition against Catholics taking the throne.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Coroner accuses Paul Burrell, Diana’s butler, of blindingly obvious deceit – The Times

“Paul Burrell, the butler and self-styled ‘rock’ of Diana, Princess of Wales, was once a loyal servant of the Crown but ‘cashed in’ on his experience, the coroner said at her inquest yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Email halts Diana inquest summing-up – The Independent

“The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales hit a last-minute glitch today, hours before it was due to conclude, after the discovery of potentially new evidence.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st April 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Diana coroner: No evidence of Royal plot – Daily Telegraph

“The coroner leading the inquest into the death of Princess Diana has said there is no evidence that Prince Philip, the Secret Intelligence Service or any other government agency had anything to do with the 1997 car crash that killed the Princess and her lover Dodi Fayed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Judge wraps up Diana inquest – Reuters

“After almost six months and more than 250 witnesses, the judge presiding over the inquest into Princess Diana’s death wraps up the case on Monday with his summary to the jury.”

Full story

Reuters, 30th March 2008

Source: www.reuters.com

Catholics could join the royal succession – Daily Telegraph

“Gordon Brown is to consider abolishing the Act that prevents Roman Catholics marrying into the Royal Family or becoming king or queen, in a move that could lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Prosecutors seek secret royal blackmail trial – Daily Telegraph

“Two men accused of targeting a member of the Royal Family in an alleged gay sex and drugs blackmail plot may be tried behind closed doors.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th March 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brown v Executors of the Estate of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Others – Times Law Reports

Brown v Executors of the Estate of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Others

Court of Appeal

“A person who held an irrational and scandalous belief that he was the son of the late Princess Margaret was nevertheless entitled to have a substantive hearing of his claim to inspect the wills of the princess and the Queen Mother.”

The Times, 19th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Home Secretary Kenneth Clarke ‘blocked Diana Squidgygate tape inquiry’ – Daily Telegraph

“The former home secretary Kenneth Clarke blocked security services from launching investigations into the notorious ‘Squidgygate’ and ‘Camillagate’ tapes because of fears it would damage the reputation of MI5.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Brown v Executors of the Estate of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and others – WLR Daily

Brown v Executors of the Estate of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and others [2008] EWCA Civ 56; [2008] WLR (D) 41

“The process by which a judge had ordered that the wills of two deceased members of the royal family should not be open to public inspection was not transparent, nor were the criteria applied plain, and, therefore, a person who had applied to inspect the wills was entitled to have a substantive hearing of his application, even though it was motivated by an irrational and scandalous belief.”

WLR Daily, 11th February 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Accountant gets to argue case on unsealing Queen Mother’s will – The Times

“An accountant who claims he may be the illegitimate son of the late Princess Margaret has won the right to a full court hearing on whether he should be allowed to view her will and that of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.”

Full story

The Times, 8th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bail hearing held in private to protect the victim – The Times

“A bail hearing this week involving one of two men alleged to be involved in a gay sex-and-drugs blackmail plot will be held in private — against the principle of open justice in the courts.”

Full story

The Times, 30th October 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Princess Margaret’s ‘illegitimate son’ wins appeal right – The Guardian

“A man claiming to be the illegitimate son of Princess Margaret today won the right to continue his fight to see the contents of her will.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th October 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk