So it seems that Prince Andrew has found a sugar daddy, a benefactor willing to stump up millions of pounds to help him keep his publicly owned home, Royal Lodge, in the grounds of the Windsor Estate. It was reported yesterday that Andrew, who had been expected to leave the house where he has a lease until after his brother King Charles cut off the funding for his security, had shown Palace officials that he had the required funds to maintain upkeep of the room mansion.
Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, approved the money as coming from legitimate sources, The Times reported. Well, we may be told to trust the disgraced Duke or Sir Michael that all is above board, but many are already asking questions.
Not only is there the matter of the case he settled with Virginia Giuffre , who claimed she was trafficked to have sex with him β claims he has always vehemently denied β he has a history of friendships with people of questionable repute. Last week, a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary revealed in great detail how Charles and William demand money from charities, schools, hospitals and the military for use of Duchy land, land which many people believe ultimately belongs to the nation.
In the summer, the press and opposition were up in arms about gifts being accepted by politicians β and rightly so. Yet the royals say little and less about their own gifts, which are considered almost impossible to trace. He was also said to be friends with Saif Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan leader, and gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni. Because generous donors to public figures are rarely doing so out of the goodness of their hearts.
The royals are protected by a wall of official secrecy, exempt from the freedom of information act and governments unwilling to expose this rotten institution for what it is. Knowing that they can behave in this way only emboldens the royals to continue to do as they please, to take money from whatever oligarch or businessman they enjoy lunching with.
