Former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing accusations of misusing taxpayers’ funds for massages and extravagant travel expenses during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy, according to retired civil servants.
A report by the BBC revealed that a former civil servant objected to covering the cost of a massage for Andrew but was overruled by senior officials. This individual expressed concerns, stating, “I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway.”
Another ex-Whitehall official, responsible for financial oversight, confirmed the validity of the claim, citing similar excessive expenses incurred during the prince’s international trips. Police searches at Andrew’s former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, were ongoing after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Andrew, who spent 11 hours in custody on his birthday, is accused of sharing confidential information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.
In a sworn deposition from 2009, Epstein’s former housekeeper mentioned Andrew’s regular massages during his visits. A whistleblower highlighted the alleged misuse of public funds for massages, suggesting a need for closer scrutiny.
Another official disclosed Andrew’s excessive claims for flights, accommodations, and entourage expenses, expressing astonishment at the cavalier spending. The Liberal Democrats are considering pushing for further examination of Andrew’s past role in the House of Commons.
Despite denials of wrongdoing regarding his association with Epstein, calls for a broader investigation into Andrew’s actions have intensified. Plans to exclude him from the line of succession are under discussion, with government consultations expected post the police inquiry.
Following the announcement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed support for removing Andrew from the royal lineage, pending a parliamentary agreement with the British realms.
