Cash lies on the coronary heart of all Andrew’s issues.
It was what drew him to Jeffrey Epstein – the multi-millionaire paedophile financier – within the first place, a transfer that set about his downfall.
And cash, or the dearth of it, shall be taking part in a big half in his decision-making now.
Regardless of his grand 30-room, seven bed room house, Royal Lodge, a stone’s throw from Windsor Fortress, Andrew is, like most royals, not money wealthy.
He has by no means had the funds required to underwrite the life-style of personal jets, luxurious ski chalets and days on the golf course that he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson so hankered after, which led him to rub shoulders with a coterie of worldwide undesirables who may pay for it.
And he’s actually not wealthy sufficient to afford the £5million to £6 million estimated authorized invoice he’s more likely to be left with on account of his resolution to battle this case and clear his identify over the intercourse allegations levelled towards him by Virginia Roberts.
Cash is what drew Prince Andrew (pictured) to Jeffrey Epstein – the multi-millionaire paedophile financier – within the first place, a transfer that set about his downfall
Nor may he pay out of his personal pocket any substantial settlement with Miss Roberts, now often called Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew has not, it needs to be careworn, obtained any public cash for a few years.
The one payments which were met by taxpayers have been the (admittedly not inconsiderable) journey prices for his official globetrotting as a roving UK particular consultant for commerce and funding – and offering him with 24-hour safety.
Privately, he survives off hand-outs from the Queen from her Duchy of Lancaster property, private investments and bequests from relations such because the late Queen Mom and his modest naval pension.
Regardless of his grand 30-room, seven bed room house, Royal Lodge (pictured), a stone’s throw from Windsor Fortress, Andrew is, like most royals, not money wealthy
He lives in Royal Lodge, the late Queen Mom’s house, on a preferential, however undisclosed, 100-year lease from the Crown Property and owns no property of his personal, apart from the £18million ski chalet he so disastrously purchased with Sarah, Duchess of York, in Verbier, 5 years in the past.
He has now been compelled to promote that after failing to make the second £5million instalment he owed the seller, French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre, who took authorized motion to retrieve it.
She revealed this week that Andrew and Sarah finally settled the debt in November and sources near the duke say a brand new purchaser has been discovered and a sale underneath means.
However how a lot he could have left afterwards, contemplating his £13million mortgage on the property and outgoings, stays to be seen.
It’s conceivable he may even have some cash left from the sale of his former marital house, Sunninghill Park, close to Windsor, which was a marriage reward from the Queen. The 12-bedroom property, likened to an out-of-town superstore, had languished available on the market for 5 years earlier than out of the blue being purchased in 2007 for £15million – £3million over the asking value – by Timur Kulibayev.
Kulibayev is the son-in-law of Prince Andrew’s pal and goose-hunting accomplice Nursultan Nazarbayev, the previous autocratic ruler of Kazakhstan.
The £18million ski chalet Prince Andrew so disastrously purchased with Sarah, Duchess of York, in Verbier, 5 years in the past. He has now been compelled to promote it after failing to make the second £5million instalment he owed the seller, French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre, who took authorized motion to retrieve it
It has been instructed that up till now the Queen had been serving to her son along with his authorized payments.
She may, after all, proceed to do that.
However royal insiders say it’s ‘inconceivable’ she may or would contribute to a monetary settlement with Miss Roberts, who has in any case accused her son of rape, ought to the prince be compelled to go down that route.
Royal Lodge just isn’t his to promote however he may conceivably be compelled to vacate the property to minimise his outgoings within the close to future, particularly now each his daughters have moved out and it simply himself and his ex-wife rattling across the huge property.
It could actually free it up for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to maneuver into, if the rumours of their upping sticks to Windsor are true.
However that also wouldn’t ship the tens of millions wanted flowing again into Andrew’s coffers.
The longer term is wanting removed from financially safe for the beleaguered duke.