Prince Andrew set to be forced to fund Royal Lodge security
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The Duke of York is set to be forced to fund future security operations at his Windsor home, The Telegraph can reveal, as Sir Keir Starmer said police should look into sexual abuse allegations made against him.
The King is preparing to withdraw the private funding he ploughs into the security operation at Royal Lodge, The Telegraph understands.
To avoid being forced out of the 30-room property, Prince Andrew will need to conjure up the small fortune required to maintain security and upkeep. He has no discernible income, and the house is in need of extensive repairs.
On Friday, Sir Keir, the Labour leader and former director of public prosecutions, backed calls for Scotland Yard to launch an investigation into claims about the Duke made in newly-released US court documents.
The documents relate to a 2015 defamation case brought against Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of abusing her as a teenager.
They reiterate previous claims that he groped a 20-year-old student at Epstein’s New York home in 2001 and sexually assaulted and raped Ms Giuffre three times when she was 17, including one occasion in London.
The Duke has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Sir Keir said: “I think wherever there’s a complaint made it’s inevitable that it should be looked at.
“I mean, we have to start with the victims here and look at what allegations have been made. I’ve seen the headlines on this, not the detail… but frankly whoever it is, where there are allegations, credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.”
His comments came after Republic, the anti-monarchy group, made a formal complaint demanding that the Metropolitan Police investigate.
Sir Keir was director of public prosecutions from 2008 until 2013, during which time Ms Guiffre released a photograph depicting the Duke with his arm around her waist and gave a newspaper interview describing how she had been trafficked to London, where she alleged she was first introduced to the royal.
A former senior Cabinet minister said of his comments: “This raises issues as to Starmer’s own failure when DPP to ask key questions. His latest intervention appears to be an attempt to rewrite his own history as DPP.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that it had not opened an investigation. A spokesman said: “We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it.”
In October 2021, the force announced that it would take no further action against the Duke after reviewing legal documents from the civil case brought by Ms Giuffre.
The release of the documents revived questions about the Duke’s royal status. His determination to remain at Royal Lodge, which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, has proved a bone of contention in recent months.
Attempts to relocate him to Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor property that until recently belonged to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have so far proved unsuccessful.
The Duke’s lease gives him the right to live in the property until 2078, but the contract includes a clause that he must maintain it to an appropriate standard. One source said he would not be evicted “so long as he can fulfil his contractual obligations”.
