Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is set to face significant upheaval as King Charles withdraws his security funding.
This move comes after years of private funding from the Crown for the scandal-plagued prince.
As a result, Prince Andrew will now have to finance his own protection at his 30-room residence in Windsor, known as the Royal Lodge.
The cost of security and maintenance for the property is expected to be exorbitant, posing financial challenges for the Duke.
Complicating matters further, Prince Andrew lacks a clear source of income, and the house requires extensive renovations.
The decision to withdraw security funding follows Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s call for a fresh investigation into Prince Andrew.
The request stems from claims made in recently released US court documents related to a 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre.
Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of s**ually abusing her as a teenager, alleging that he had groped a 20-year-old student at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York home in 2001 and s**ually assaulted and raped her on three occasions when she was 17, including one incident in London.
Prince Andrew has consistently denied these allegations.
Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of addressing complaints and investigating credible allegations, stating, “Wherever there’s a complaint made, it’s inevitable that it should be looked at.
I mean, we have to start with the victims here and look at what allegations have been made.”
As the former Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, Sir Keir had previously encountered allegations involving Prince Andrew when Ms. Giuffre released a photograph of herself with the Duke, showcasing him with his arm around her waist.
In the newly released documents, interviews given under oath by Maxwell, Giuffre, and another woman named Joanna Sjoberg are included, along with connected emails between Epstein and Maxwell.
The documents also mention former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
Despite these recent developments, Prince Andrew was seen as recently as Christmas Day walking from Sandringham to church with King Charles and other members of the Royal Family.
This public appearance came just months after Prince Andrew’s participation in Charles’s coronation, where he appeared in his garter robes.
It is worth noting that Prince Andrew reached a multi-million pound settlement with Giuffre in 2022 after she accused him of s**ual assault when she was 17.
However, the re-emergence of allegations could potentially hinder his hopes of making further public appearances, casting doubt on his future engagements.
In conclusion, Prince Andrew’s financial situation is set to undergo significant turmoil as he assumes responsibility for funding his own security measures at the Royal Lodge.
With the withdrawal of security funding by King Charles, the Duke of York faces the daunting task of covering the costs associated with protecting and maintaining his Windsor residence.