A royal historian has revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior during Prince Andrew’s decade-long tenure as a UK trade envoy, alleging a systematic abuse of taxpayer funds and a relentless pursuit of personal gain.
The accusations center around a period beginning in 2001, when, at age 41, Andrew reportedly entered a period of personal turmoil. This coincided with a pattern of requesting “private time” – essentially, publicly funded holidays – during official trade trips.
One particularly shocking example involves a trip to Thailand for the King’s birthday celebrations. While ostensibly representing his country, Andrew insisted on staying at a lavish five-star hotel, a consistent preference over embassy accommodations, and allegedly arranged for forty prostitutes to be brought to his hotel over four days.
This extravagant indulgence wasn’t simply a matter of personal excess; it was facilitated by diplomatic staff and carried a hefty price tag, estimated at around £50,000. Former trade envoy Paul Scully described Andrew as effectively booking an entire floor of Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Beyond personal indulgences, the historian claims Andrew actively exploited these trade missions to bolster his own business connections. He allegedly arranged meetings in China for a business partner and facilitated the acquisition of a banking license in the Middle East.
A troubling “conspiracy of silence” surrounds Andrew’s activities during this period, with crucial files detailing his ten years as Trade Envoy remaining undisclosed. This lack of transparency has fueled concerns about the full extent of his actions.
The revelations come as Buckingham Palace initiated proceedings to remove Andrew’s official titles and evict him from Royal Lodge, a move the historian believes is long overdue. He argued that proper scrutiny during Andrew’s time as Trade Envoy could have prevented many of the subsequent controversies.
The historian contends that Andrew’s behavior brought “disrepute” upon the entire institution, suggesting a need for decisive action to distance the monarchy from his actions and a complete accounting of his time as a public representative.
