Earl of Yarmouth challenges trusts managing the £85m Ragley Hall estate, sparking family dispute over future control.
He wants to replace the estate’s trusts. His family disagrees with William’s plan. His parents are Lord and Lady Hertford. His siblings are Gabriella, Edward, and Antonia. They believe the trusts should stay.
William argued with his parents in 2018. This happened after he married Kelsey. He expected to inherit Ragley Hall. His dad said things got worse. William wanted Ragley Hall at age 30. He also sent angry emails to his mom and argued with the trustees.
William said they kicked him out. He and his wife lost their cottage. He runs a distillery on the land. He wants to remove the trustees. His family claims William acts badly. They want the trusts to stay in charge. The trusts are two companies.
The estate includes many things. There is a mansion, farms, and businesses. It also has woods and parkland. The trusts don’t run the house. After William met Kelsey, he changed. He asked for estate information. He wanted to attend meetings.
William complained about his ideas. He said they disrespected his wife. She wasn’t invited to a meeting. William emailed his mother in 2018. He implied his father couldn’t manage things. This worsened family relations.
William said problems started later. His parents seemed to deny him the estate. His mom said there were no promises. This email was also in 2018. William claimed he got no explanation. His situation changed a lot in 2018.
William sued to get woodland. He argued about access rights. William’s lawyer blamed the trustees. He thinks they caused family fights. The trusts disagreed with this claim.
His family’s lawyer defended the trusts. He said William made trustees cautious since 2018. He denied William lost his home. William received land worth over £4 million. He got this before he turned 21.
The court stated it was not a family feud. It was a problem between the trustees and him. The judge will announce the decision later.