Everyone Who Inherited Money From Prince Philip’s Royal Fortune—Including His Staff

Queen Elizabeth II

When it came to Philip’s estimated £30 million ($42 million) estate, the lion’s share went to his beloved wife of 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II. Their shared wealth included some seriously impressive properties, with the crown jewel being Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The 20,000-acre property, worth around £220 million ($300 million), was particularly special to Philip, who spent much of his retirement enjoying its peaceful grounds and managing the estate’s operations.

The couple also jointly owned Balmoral Castle in Scotland, valued at £115 million ($155 million)—another royal retreat they both treasured. Their shared possessions went far beyond just properties, though. Together they owned an incredible art collection of about 7,000 pieces, and a stamp collection (started by George V) worth approximately £10 million ($14 million).

Thanks to a clever legal agreement from 1993, all these transfers between Philip and the Queen were exempt from the UK’s hefty 40% inheritance tax—a pretty good deal considering the value of their shared assets. Of course, along with all these high-value items came countless personal mementos—including private photos, letters, and memories from over seven decades of marriage.

Following the Queen’s passing in 2022, the majority of these assets transferred to King Charles III as part of his royal inheritance, while some personal items were distributed among family members according to Her Majesty’s wishes.

Prince William & Prince Harry

Despite their reported feud at the time of his death, Prince Philip had apparently sorted out his grandsons’ inheritances long before any royal family tensions arose. According to a source who spoke to The Sun, Harry and William’s grandfather had a relatively fair approach to their inheritances: “Philip was not the sort of character to punish a grandson for misbehaving,” the insider shared. “He was a very fair, even-handed and lovely man. Never held a grudge.”

The exact details of what William and Harry inherited remain private, as is customary with royal wills. However, similar to how both princes received mementos from their mother Princess Diana’s personal collection, it’s likely that Philip left personal items and possibly financial bequests to both grandsons. Philip was known to have close relationships with both William and Harry, bonding with them after their mother Diana’s death when he took on a supportive, grandfatherly role during their teenage years.

The Sun’s source went on to confirm that any inheritance plans for Harry, in particular, were “sorted out quite a while ago,” suggesting that the Duke of Sussex’s decision to step back from his role as a working member of the royal family didn’t impact Philip’s decisions about his estate. This aligns with what many knew about Philip—he was more interested in family unity than public drama, and it seems he had a pretty practical approach to financial planning, having “plenty of time to sort out all the legal stuff so it wouldn’t attract inheritance tax.”

Prince Philip’s Children

Philip’s four children—King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew—got a pretty unique inheritance: they were told to “take what they want” from his impressive 13,000-book library at Buckingham Palace, per The Sun. 

The Duke of Edinburgh also left another thoughtful gift to his children. After returning from the hospital towards the end of his life, he spent a lot of his time signing photographs of himself, which were then carefully framed. These weren’t just any photos—they were believed to be intended for the people who had cared for him, making for quite the meaningful parting gift.

Beyond these personal mementos, some siblings also inherited royal titles, carrying forward their father’s legacy in meaningful ways. In particular, Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh title was up for grabs following his death. 

While the title initially passed to Charles following royal protocol, Philip had actually expressed his wishes for his youngest son Edward to eventually hold it. Edward previously revealed to The Telegraph that Philip had discussed this plan with him back in 1999, right after his engagement to Sophie Rhys-Jones. “My father was very keen that the title should continue, but he didn’t quite move quickly enough with Andrew, so it was us who he eventually had the conversation with. It was a lovely idea; a lovely thought.”

When Philip passed away in April 2021, the title transferred to Charles but remained “dormant,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Insider. After Queen Elizabeth’s passing in September 2022, the title merged with the crown, allowing King Charles to honor his father’s wishes by creating a new Dukedom of Edinburgh for Edward on his 59th birthday in March 2023.

While there are likely more private details about the royal family’s inheritance from Prince Philip, Buckingham Palace has kept things close to the vest, telling The Sun, “This is a personal matter for the family and as such arrangements are private.”

Brigadier Archie Miller Bakewell

According to The Sun, the Duke of Edinburgh made sure to remember his most loyal staff members in his final will. “Philip was not the sort of character to punish hard work and devotion,” one palace source shared. While the exact amounts were kept private, the outlet reported that Prince Philip was quite “generous” to three staff members in particular, the first of whom was his private secretary, Archie Miller Bakewell. 

As Philip’s private secretary, Bakewell was essentially the Duke’s right-hand man for years. The Sun quoted their source, explaining, “He’s the man who looked after him before he retired and afterwards. He was the one who would have dealt with every single issue.” Miller Bakewell was so trusted that he even continued to represent Philip at events when the Duke couldn’t attend himself.

William Henderson

Another one of Philip’s trusted staff members who received an inheritance was William Henderson, who served as page to the Duke of Edinburgh. You know how some people just seem to know exactly what you need before you even ask? That was Henderson’s role. He kept track of all the little details that made Philip’s day-to-day life run like clockwork. From making sure his uniforms were perfect for public appearances to knowing exactly how he liked his daily routine—Henderson was on it. Henderson was also right there by Philip’s side during his final two days at Windsor Castle. That kind of loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed, and Philip made sure it didn’t go unrewarded either.

Stephen Niedojadlo

As Philip’s valet, Niedojadlo’s job required incredible attention to detail and absolute discretion. As valet, he served as Philip’s personal attendant—helping with everything from dressing to managing daily routines. But Niedojadlo’s role went way beyond just helping Philip pick out his suits or organizing his wardrobe.

In those final years, especially after Philip’s retirement in 2017, Niedojadlo became one of his most trusted confidants. While the rest of the royal household was buzzing with activity in London, Philip preferred the quieter life at Wood Farm, a modest (by royal standards!) farmhouse on the Sandringham Estate. This is where Niedojadlo really showed his dedication, taking turns with Henderson to ensure the Duke was never without trusted support.