Will gives widow nothing

September 18, 1926

"Romance and pathos, coupled with vindictiveness against his wife, Archduchess Maria Dorothea of Austria, are breathed from the pages" of Philippe, Duke of Orleans' will. The Duke of Orleans, pretender to the French throne, died at Palermo in March.

Maria Dorothea was left in the cold. "I direct that the archduchess will get nothing from my estate. I deprive her of any rights whatsoever, even her legal usufruct."

Ouch.

The Duke,  born in exile in London, had lived for most of his life in Evesham, Worcestershire, "where he kept up to a certain extent the ceremonies and etiquette of the French court."

Although barred from entering France, and thus, being denied a burial there, Philippe wish "is that my mortal remains, which cannot be committed to the earth of France, shall be buried in the sea in the sight of the coast of France."

The reason for the Duke's animosity toward Maria Dorothea was due to his behavior. The Duchess of Orleans sued for separation and alimony in a Belgian court. Although Austrian emperor Franz Joseph had tried to arrange a reconciliation, the couple separated. However, the Vatican refused to annul the marriage.
The Duke also left property in England. His will did not include his estate holdings in Belgium, Italy and Sicily.

King Alfonso XIII of Spain received several paintings from the Duke. Violette Jarrott, formerly Lady Rosslyn, received $30, 000 annually and all of the Duke's personal jewels.

 
Other beneficiaries include the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier (paintings); the Duke of Vendome (a portrait of the Duke of Nemours); the Duchess of Vendome (a Winterhalter portrait of the Duke of Orleans); the Duchess of Chartres (a pastel painting); the Duke of D'Oaste[Aosta???] (a platinum ring with large emeralds and diamonds); the duke of Guise (all his sapphires including ones that once belonged to Marie Antoinette), along with a cigar case given to him by Ferdinand of Bulgaria and his flag collection).

The Duke of Orleans' sister, Queen Marie Amelie of Portugal, received the rest of his paintings, miniatures personal effects, apart from his personal jewels."

The Duke's niece and goddaughter, Isabelle, received $2,900.

The city of Paris received a sword.

The Duke also left a sum of money to maintain the Paris Museum (as well as his natural history collection.)

The Duke of Orléans's marriage was childless.