Former Aides Accuse Prince Andrew of Misusing Taxpayer Funds

New allegations have emerged regarding the spending practices of Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during his tenure as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy. Former civil servants claim that taxpayer money was misappropriated for personal expenses, including massage services. The accusations, which follow a recent investigation into Andrew’s conduct, raise significant questions about the oversight of public funds.

One former official from the trade department recounted his objections to a bill related to “massage services.” Speaking anonymously to the BBC, he stated, “I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway.” The retired civil servant expressed regret for not being more persistent in challenging the expenditure, suggesting that it could have highlighted potential mismanagement at the time.

Another former Whitehall official described a troubling pattern of extravagant spending linked to Andrew’s official travels. He indicated that instances of frequent flights and the booking of multiple hotel rooms for a large entourage were commonplace. “I couldn’t believe it… it was like it wasn’t real money, they weren’t spending any of their own money,” he remarked. Oversight on such expenditures appeared limited, with claims often receiving minimal scrutiny and what the official characterized as a “rubber stamp” approval process.

These allegations surfaced shortly after Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was detained for approximately 10 hours before being released, later photographed returning to Wood Farm, his residence following his departure from Royal Lodge.

The investigation also delves into claims that Andrew disclosed confidential trade information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly show Andrew forwarding official trip reports, which included visits to locations such as Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore. One email from November 2010 was allegedly shared just minutes after being received; another message sent on Christmas Eve of that year seemed to contain a confidential briefing about investment opportunities related to the reconstruction of Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

Law enforcement agencies in the U.K. are currently investigating various aspects of Andrew’s connections to Epstein. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is reviewing allegations concerning the use of London airports in relation to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The mounting allegations regarding lavish travel expenses and the unauthorized sharing of official information have intensified scrutiny surrounding Andrew’s conduct as trade envoy and the broader misconduct investigation now underway.