Prince Andrew: Paperwork relating to Duke of York’s past business dealings ‘has vanished’, author claims
Government departments are doing “anything to avoid” sharing information about Prince Andrew’s past business dealings.
The claim comes from author Andrew Lownie who’s been working for four years on a new book about the Duke of York.
He has submitted over a hundred requests to Whitehall departments only to find that information “has vanished”.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I used to write about the intelligence services, and I found that was a lot easier, a lot more open and transparent than the Royal Family.
“I have tried, through the Freedom Information Act, to get access to any of the paperwork for Andrew, a special representative between 2001 and 2011 when he was taxpayer-funded, a public servant”, but explaining how his requests have been rejected he said “this stuff has vanished”.
‘It’s like playing whack-a-mole’
“The Foreign Office claimed not to know anything about it. The Department of Business and Trade know nothing.
“It’s like playing whack-a-mole. It’s real Yes Minister stuff, anything to avoid releasing this information.”
Interest in Prince Andrew’s finances has increased in recent months after it was revealed that the King was no longer paying him an allowance, raising questions about how he is able to pay for his home on the Windsor Estate, Royal Lodge, and security.
The prince’s time as trade envoy for the UK may be significant because it was potentially a lucrative time for him, giving him access to business contacts around the world.
Information withheld ‘in accordance with the acts’
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “The department has complied with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act and maintains that information has been withheld in accordance with the acts.
“This includes an ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) decision notice which outlined that the commissioner did not need to take any further steps.”
When asked, the Foreign Office told Sky News: “The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) takes its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act very seriously.”
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Alleged Chinese spy linked to the prince
It comes as a Chinese businessman – described as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew – was barred from entering the UK over national security risks.
Known as H6, the man was invited to the duke’s birthday party in 2020, and was told by Andrew’s aide Dominic Hampshire that he could help in potential dealings with Chinese investors. A judge ruled the Chinese businessman had an “unusual” degree of trust from the royal.
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On Friday, the duke said he “ceased all contact” with the businessman after concerns were raised by the government.
Andrew met the individual through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said.
Growing call for accountability
Former chair of the public accounts committee between 2010 and 2015, Baroness Margaret Hodge, has joined calls for less secrecy generally around the royal finances.
She told me: “I find it really difficult to believe that the departments for whom Prince Andrew had contact when he was an envoy have not got the records.
“They will have those records, they obviously just don’t want to share them. And that really says it all.
“I want a Royal Family that is well-funded: they’re a precious and valued institution in our society but going with that funding must come some accountability.”
Prince Andrew, Mike Tindall, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes in February. File pic: PA
The palace believes that as a non-working royal, the duke’s income and tax arrangements are a matter for him and HM Revenue and Customs.
In terms of how he is paying for Royal Lodge, Sky News understands the royal household has been given assurances that his sources of income are all above board, however, it is not in their remit to vet or approve those sources.
It sees it as a job for the Crown Estate which manages properties in the likes of the Windsor Estate.
But Royal Lodge is of interest more generally to the family.
As the former home of the Queen Mother, it’s been suggested that potentially other members of the family may be interested in living there in the future, from the Prince and Princess of Wales to Queen Camilla looking at it for her family.
‘Opaque’ and ‘confusing’
However Robert Hardman, journalist and author of Charles III: New King. New Court, says: “Everything to do with Prince Andrew is opaque, is confusing, people don’t really want to talk about it because his situation is a distraction.”
He added: “I think the real question is not what’s happening today, it’s what’s happening in a few years down the line, what happens if his savings run out, these sources of income such as they are at the moment, what if they run out and suddenly he can’t afford to pay for the maintenance or the protection, what happens to the lease then?
“Does the Crown Estate then say, ‘Well, actually the terms of the lease have been forfeited?’ We just don’t know.
“It is a private financial matter for him but given the prominence of the house and its history and its connections, then the media are clearly going to carry on taking a keen interest in it, as are the Crown Estate and as are ultimately the Treasury.”
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Prince Andrew and China: What is happening?
Prince Andrew’s television interview five years ago about his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was meant to shut the scandal down and allow him to get back to public duties without that distraction.
Instead, it had the opposite effect.
This year, he has only been seen once officially in front of the cameras, as he appeared to lead the family as they walked to the chapel at Windsor for a memorial service in February.
This Christmas we may again see Andrew with the rest of the family going to church at Sandringham, always a sign that he hasn’t been entirely left out in the cold by his relatives.
But he still lives with the repercussions of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, his extraordinary downfall meaning questions will continue to remain about him, how he lives and his finances.
A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall.
She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.
Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary
“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.
“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.
“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.
“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.
“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.
Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.
Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.
Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.
A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.
There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.
The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.
An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.
Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.
Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.
“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”
She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.
“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”
The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.
A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.
“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.
“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.
“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.
The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.
“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.
“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”
He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.
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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.
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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.
It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.
The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.
Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP
However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.
Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”
He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.
“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”
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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.
No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.
Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.
Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.
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