Prince Andrew faces renewed scrutiny over claims about taxpayer-funded massages
Prince Andrew is facing fresh controversy after new claims emerged about expenses allegedly charged during overseas trips when he served as the UK’s trade ambassador. The allegations, which have prompted renewed public criticism, centre on whether taxpayers reimbursed massage costs linked to the Duke of York’s official travel.
News.com.au reported that historian Dr Andrew Lownie alleged officials had “been paying for happy endings for Andrew for years” after a complaint from a “bean-counter” questioning whether massages should be expensed was, he claimed, ultimately overruled.
The article also said two civil service whistleblowers told the BBC that Prince Andrew demanded to be reimbursed for a massage during a trade trip to the Middle East, with one staff member quoted as saying they initially refused but later paid after pressure from higher-ups. It added that a former senior Whitehall official said they had seen similar expenses claimed for the Duke’s trips, while noting there was “nothing unlawful suggested” in the behaviour described.
The allegations add to a wider period of attention on the Duke’s conduct in public life, following reports around the implications of Prince Andrew’s arrest and the continuing fallout for the Royal Family. Prince Andrew has previously denied wrongdoing in relation to separate allegations about his associations, and the latest claims have not been confirmed by official records in the public domain.
Any questions about expenses claims during official trips are likely to intensify calls for transparency around how public funds were used and what oversight existed for senior representatives abroad. The Palace and government departments have not commented in the report on the specific allegations about reimbursements.
