Britain’s royal family is facing calls for transparency over Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre, reported to be up to £12 million ($16.27 million).
Queen Elizabeth II is understood to have contributed to the sum paid to the Duke of York’s accuser to settle the civil sex assault claim against him.
A royal finances expert said the royals should “come clean” on the source of the money and called for the public to be told exactly how much of the monarch’s cash went towards the deal.
Facing a civil trial in the US, Andrew reached the out-of-court settlement, agreeing to make a “substantial donation” to his accuser’s charity. The royal “regrets his association” with convicted sex offender and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter submitted to the US District Court.
Andrew, 61, was reported last month to have sold his beloved chalet in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier for an estimated £18 million to pay for a settlement and legal fees. He bought the luxury getaway for a reported £13 million in 2014 with his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
The palace in January announced that Prince Andrew would be defending the case “as a private citizen”, but several commentators claimed that would not stop him from being given money from the queen.
Prince Andrew receives a Royal Navy pension and the monarch is also thought to fund her son from her £21.7-million-a-year income from the Duchy of Lancaster — the private estate owned by the British sovereign. However, she is not required to make public how much she gives Prince Andrew.
David McClure, author of The Queen’s True Worth – Unravelling the public & private finances of Queen Elizabeth II, said a settlement could be “in the order of $7 million (£5.2 million)”. But several reports suggest the figure was more likely to be £12 million.
McClure told the PA news agency the settlement “raises the question: ‘does he have the money?'”
Referring to reports suggesting Andrew had sold his Verbier ski chalet, McClure said: “The very fact he had to sell, it does show he had some money but he didn’t have lots of money.
“So where does the money come from? I think more than likely the queen.”
McClure said if money did come from his mother it “more than likely would have come from the Duchy of Lancaster”, and not from public funds given to the monarchy under the Sovereign Grant.
He said the source of any settlement funds given to Prince Andrew is of “tremendous public interest”, and called for the royals to “come clean and say where the money came from”.
“I just would argue in view of the enormous public interest in it, in view of the fact that Prince Andrew is a public figure, he was in line to the throne, I really think that they should disclose the amount of money and where it’s come from,” he said. McClure said he was “not optimistic” the information will be laid bare for public scrutiny and pointed to the “long history of secrecy to do with anything involving the royal finances”.
Another royal expert said it is likely the public will “never know what contribution came from the queen to the Duke of York” to help with the settlement and legal costs.
“Who else is going to support him other than the queen?” Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, said. “There’s no reason for the queen not to help him out financially as his mother, rather than head of state.”
It is not known whether Prince Andrew will join royals at a remembrance service in honour of Prince Philip scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey in March. There is also uncertainty over whether he will be present at the queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who represents the constituency of York Central, said the Duke of York should be stripped of his royal title over the sex scandal.
While she welcomed Prince Andrew’s acknowledgement of regret for his friendship with Epstein, Ms Maskell said his delay in doing so and his denial that he had ever met Ms Giuffre had “been a source of deep hurt and embarrassment to many people” in York.
“To demonstrate his seriousness in this endeavour, and his respect for those affected by abuse and the people of our city, I would ask that his first act of contrition is to confirm his support for the withdrawal of his ducal title,” she said.
Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November 2019 following uproar over an interview he gave to the BBC, in which he expressed no remorse for Epstein’s victims.
Last month he lost his military titles and royal patronages as he faced the US civil action over allegations he had sexually assaulted Ms Giuffre. He has consistently denied the claims. The queen’s son agreed to stop using the style His Royal Highness in an official capacity.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Dunki
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE%20SWIMMERS
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SCHEDULE
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
NATIONAL%20SELECTIONS
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RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
more from Janine di Giovanni
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Mobile phone packages comparison
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6-cylinder%2C%204.8-litre%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5-speed%20automatic%20and%20manual%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E280%20brake%20horsepower%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E451Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh153%2C00%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
