Rolf Harris’ daughter, Bindi, largely stood by her tarnished father, but has since worked hard to escape her father’s shadow, changing her name and removing photos of him from her home
Rolf Harris, who passed away in 2023, left behind a huge fortune in his will, and his daughter, Bindi Harris, became the main beneficiary.
The disgraced TV star died aged 93 in May 2023 from neck cancer and left behind a whopping £16 million fortune. Earlier this week, it was then revealed that his wife and mum to Bindi, Alwen Hughes, left behind a staggering £4 million.
Alwen, who remained by Harris’ side through his trial and conviction for the abuse of young girls, died in August 2022, aged 92. Documents reveal that at the time of her death, Alwen’s estate was worth £3,975,950, which was later reduced to £3,840,532 after deductions.
Her will, drawn up in 2018, included provisions for her husband despite his conviction and named their daughter, Bindi, as the main beneficiary. But who is Bindi, and what has she said about her late father?
READ MORE: Rolf Harris’s wife leaves £4million and will says where it is going
After her father’s death in 2023, Bindi did everything to move away from her father’s legacy. She even changed her name and now works as an artist under the pseudonym Ava Reeves.
It’s said to have been difficult for Ava to have her work taken seriously, but she seems to finally be getting somewhere. A source close to the family reportedly told The Sun: “Obviously, anything by a Harris is pretty much unsellable so Bindi is working under the pseudonym in a bid to be taken seriously in the art world. She’s chuffed that galleries have begun to take on some of her pieces.”
But her path hasn’t been easy. Ava stood by her father during his trial and attended court with her mother, even though one of his victims, 13, was Ava’s close friend. Other victims included an eight-year-old child seeking an autograph and two girls in their early teens.
Ava’s testimony during the trial painted a picture of a strained relationship, revealing how Harris’ fame and personal flaws left her feeling neglected and isolated. Despite this, her support for her father during his trial was unwavering.
Jurors read an email during his trial where Ava laid bare her money worries and begged her dad to either confirm or deny whether she would inherit his £11 million fortune, or if he planned to give it to someone else.
In court, Ava spoke about the emotional toll of growing up with a father who was often absent, both physically and emotionally. She told the court that Harris was “switched off” when he was away from television cameras and adoring fans.
“Dad didn’t really take much notice of me or anybody at home,” she said. “I think when he is out in the world he wants to give everyone his time and everyone is new and he can tell new jokes. But when he is at home he is very much switched off, very quiet, quite often working, making something.”
Harris once admitted in an interview with Piers Morgan that he went away for work immediately after Bindi’s birth, leaving Alwen alone. “I didn’t know I could pull out of the contract. You don’t at that age… it’s an awful sadness,” he said.
Her resentment of her father’s fame was made clear in an interview with the Guardian in 2003, when she said that she’d previously banned pictures of Harris from her home to stop guests asking about him. She kept photos of her dad off the walls to avoid “utterly tedious” conversations about her parentage.
Bindi told the publication: “As a child, I got fed-up with everyone going on and on about Dad because he was on telly and because they imagined he was painting paintings on my walls, being funny all the time. It simply wasn’t true – he was always busy, rushing off, giving his all to everyone else in the world.”
But Bindi’s support of her father ultimately ended her relationship with long-term partner Malcolm Cox, who told the court they split because he was concerned their son wouldn’t be safe around his famous grandfather. In a draft of Bindi’s book in 2018, which had the working title Living With A Pervert, she tried to explain that her dad was from a different era and justify his vile actions.
In another step moving further away from her father’s legacy, last month, the Harris’ mansion was put up for sale, two years after Harris’s death. The riverside property in Berkshire was quietly listed with an asking price of £4 million.
A source close to the family revealed that Ava was determined to get a good price for the property, though she wasn’t desperate for the money. “She wants to sell it, but she doesn’t desperately need the money and is in no rush, so she’s determined to hold out for a good price. Potential buyers have already begun viewings,” the insider said.
Now, as Ava moves forward, her future seems more hopeful. She’s found success in the art world and is building a career under her new name. But the shadows of her father’s actions continue to linger around her.