Foreign News: Above the Law

The “death duties,” as inheritance taxes are called in the United Kingdom, would have seized for the British Exchequer 50% of the estate of George V—except that the King is above British law. No subject, not even the Prime Minister, has access to the will of His late Majesty. Sealed and placed in the Royal Family’s vaults at Somerset House, the will can be invoked only at the pleasure of King Edward VIII and his successors. The value of postage stamps left by George V is estimated at $2,000,000. Not a penny of tax will the Exchequer receive.