Sometime in late 80s, I think. Author, whose name I have forgotten, adopted the persona of a Germanic-sounding lady and wrote to various slebs asking if they'd like her inheritance because she had always admired their work.
Book published of the letters he got back...
Only Roald Dahl turned the money down outright.
Princess Anne could not accept it personally but said her charitable trust would welcome it, which is fair enough.
All the others fell over themselves to accept!