November 14, 2010 12:00pm by David Farrar

The Hillary battle

Sir Edmund Hillary’s widow June could face prosecution over the controversial Rolex watch which is being held by a Swiss auction house.

As the increasingly bitter controversy over the six Hillary watches being up for auction intensified yesterday, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage refused to rule out taking action against Lady Hillary.

The ministry wrote to Lady Hillary on Friday asking that a 1953 Rolex be returned by her after it ruled it was covered by the Protected Objects Act 1975.

If MCH thinks it needs protection, why didn’t they do so before it was put up for auction? Personally I think this is a mis-use of a draconian law. Sir Edmund donated many of his artefacts to museums which was generous of him. He did not choose to donate this watch, and the Government should not come along and say hey “we want it also”.

And yesterday, Sir Ed’s son Peter Hillary launched a stinging attack on Lady Hillary, accusing her of giving away many family artefacts that belonged to him and his sister, Sarah.

Now I don’t know who is entitled to the watch, under the will. I imagine a Judge may decide. But here is what puzzles me.

Why was this not sorted out immediately after Sir Edmund’s death by the executor? Surely the stuff left to Lady Hillary should have gone to her, and the stuff left to the kids to them.

Why did Peter and Sarah not gain the watch from the Executor?

There’s more to this story, than we currently know.