Politicians from several parties have made fresh criticisms of Prince Andrew after it was revealed he’s not paid rent on his home at Royal Lodge in over 20 years.
Labour’s Dame Meg Hillier, who has been an MP for 20 years, told the BBC that ”where money flows, particularly where taxpayers’ money is involved, or taxpayers’ interests are involved, Parliament has a responsibility to have a light shine upon that and we need to have answers.”
This has been taken as indication that some kind of parliamentary investigation could result.
Conservative Robert Jenrick also spoke to the BBC about Prince Andrew and said that it was time for him to leave Royal Lodge, his home since 2003, adding ”I don’t see why the taxpayer, frankly, should continue to foot the bill at all. The public are sick of him. ”
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have called for Andrew to pay compensation to the tax payer for lost income over two decades.
The prince, who said he would stop using his title of Duke of York just days ago, pays a peppercorn rent for the property. In this case, it means he is responsible for its upkeep but doesn’t pay the estimated £260,000 per year rent. Instead, he has to hand over a peppercorn – only if it is asked for.
The revelations were made by The Times.
They came after Andrew gave up use of his titles. He was made Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. His former wife no longer uses her courtesy title and is now known by her maiden name.
It follows a series of fresh controversies over their friendships with the convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew was recently revealed to have remained in contact with Epstein after the date he says he ceased talking or communicating with him. Fergie lost seven patronages after charities distanced themselves from her after publication of an email she sent to Epstein apologising for disowning him in an interview.
The posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre has also just been published in which she claimed she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was seventeen years old. In 2022, the prince settled a civil case with her out of court. The book also claims he imposed a gagging order on her as part of the settlement to ensure no more scandals emerged during the Platinum Jubilee of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Andrew has always denied allegations made against him.
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