November 11th 2024.
It appears that Prince Andrew has found himself a wealthy benefactor who is willing to provide him with millions of pounds to maintain his home, the Royal Lodge, located on the Windsor Estate. This news comes after his brother, King Charles, cut off funding for his security and Andrew was expected to vacate the property, as his lease was set to expire in 2078. However, he was able to prove to Palace officials that he had the necessary funds to maintain the upkeep of the 30-room mansion, which was then approved by Sir Michael Stevens, the keeper of the privy purse. According to reports, the money was from legitimate sources.
Although the Duke and Sir Michael may assure us that everything is above board, many of us have valid reasons not to trust them. There is the matter of the case that was settled with Virginia Giuffre, who claimed to have been trafficked to have sex with Andrew. Despite his vehement denial, this, along with his history of associating with individuals of questionable character, raises questions.
Of course, it is important to know where the money is coming from, but the bigger issue here is the lack of transparency and trustworthiness within the monarchy. This is not a new problem, as it was earlier this year when Prince William announced that he would not disclose the taxes he voluntarily pays on his £23.6m income from the Duchy of Cornwall. He is exempt from income tax, so it is natural for us to assume that he may be paying less than his father. Furthermore, a recent documentary revealed in great detail how Charles and William demand money from charities, schools, hospitals, and the military for the use of Duchy land, which many believe belong to the nation. A report from Republic even suggested that the true cost of the monarchy could be as high as £500m a year, much more than the estimated £86m from the Sovereign Grant.
In the summer, there was much uproar over politicians accepting gifts, yet the royals remain silent about their own gifts, which are nearly impossible to trace. It is no wonder that people are questioning how Andrew can afford his lifestyle, especially when it was reported that he paid £12m to Virginia Giuffre, stemming from his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
There are speculations that Andrew's benefactor may be someone he met during his time as a UK trade envoy, as he has a history of befriending individuals with questionable character. This raises the question of what this patron may want in return for their generosity. In 2011, there was disquiet when Andrew was seen lunching with a notorious member of the former Tunisian regime. He was also said to be friends with the son of the former Libyan leader and a gun smuggler. These friendships, coupled with Andrew's direct access to those in power, make it urgent to know who is funding his lavish lifestyle. Generous donors rarely give without expecting something in return. This was evident when there were accusations of Charles accepting €3m in cash from a Qatari businessman, and again when a Saudi businessman was offered help to get a knighthood in exchange for donations to one of Charles' charities, which he denied any knowledge of.
The royals are protected by a veil of secrecy, exempt from the freedom of information act, and governments are reluctant to expose their questionable actions. It is concerning that there has been little political response to these revelations, which only emboldens the royals to continue acting as they please. However, we, the public, deserve answers. As gifts are often given with the expectation of favours, it is crucial to know what is going on behind closed doors. Andrew has unique and protected access to people in positions of power and influence, and this could lead to corruption and abuse of power if he is indebted to an anonymous benefactor. We cannot simply rely on the courtiers' assurance that everything is above board, as this is not enough. We need answers from the disgraced Duke, and we need them now. Do you have a story you would like to share? Please get in touch by emailing Ross.email. Share your views in the comments below.
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