However, what seemed like a straightforward inheritance has now become a topic of discussion, thanks to revelations in a recent interview between Harry, Meghan Markle, and Oprah Winfrey, along with Harry's upcoming book.
Prince Harry's surprising admission in the interview was that he could only leave the palace and achieve financial independence because of the inheritance his late mother left for him. He delves deeper into this in his forthcoming book. This revelation has fueled discussions about Princess Diana's estate and the legacy she left behind.
At the time of her death in August 1997, Diana, the Princess of Wales, reportedly had a net worth of around £21 million, which is approximately $31.5 million. This included various assets such as funds, stock investments, physical items like jewelry and clothing, and a £17 million divorce settlement from Prince Charles. The bulk of her estate went to her two sons, William and Harry.
Princess Diana established a discretionary fund intended to benefit her sons and their future families. This fund is still managed by Cynthia Jane Fellowes, Diana's sister. Diana specified in her will that after the distribution of material possessions and allocation of the discretionary fund, the remainder of her estate should be divided between her sons, with the condition that it remained in trust until they turned 25. Since both were teenagers at the time of her passing, the estate was placed into a trust.
Following Diana's death, her mother and sister reviewed the will and made changes through a variation order, postponing the date when Harry and William would inherit their share of the estate. Sources suggest that the remaining funds in Diana's estate for Harry are still under the management of Cynthia Jane Fellowes to this day.
There are rumors of a secret clause in the will that some believe would only grant Prince Harry access to the remaining funds if he were to divorce Meghan. However, it is uncertain whether Harry's inheritance from Diana has been fully used up, as he previously mentioned placing the money in trust for his children.
In the event of a divorce, Meghan Markle would not retain any of the jewelry gifted to her by Harry that originated from Diana's collection. Legal documentation would be required for her to claim any portion of Diana's jewelry. Any pieces of Diana's jewelry currently in Meghan's possession would need to be returned to Prince Harry.
All of Princess Diana's jewelry is cataloged and recorded under her sons' names as Estate Jewelry. While Meghan may not have any legal claim to these possessions, their authenticity would need to be verified, as there's a possibility that the jewels could have been switched or replaced with imitations.
Recent speculations have arisen concerning the rings returned by Meghan to her ex-husband, Trevor, suggesting they may have featured fake diamonds on inexpensive metal bands. This raises questions about the authenticity of Meghan's engagement and wedding rings from Prince Harry, as she no longer wears them.
The intricate details of Princess Diana's estate, including the discretionary fund and jewelry, have come into the spotlight due to recent revelations and speculations. Meghan's exclusion from certain aspects of Diana's legacy has added a layer of complexity to this ongoing narrative.
