Prince Andrew’s use of public money has long been a flashpoint for criticism, reflecting the uneasy tension between royal privilege and public accountability. During his tenure as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, Andrew racked up hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded travel and hospitality expenses each year—lavish costs that raised questions about whether his “official duties” were serving the nation or himself. His entourage’s frequent flights, luxury accommodations, and extravagant spending on overseas visits came under fire in Parliament, with critics accusing him of behaving like a jet-setting businessman rather than a public servant. When revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein emerged, those same spending habits were revisited as evidence of a pattern—public resources used to sustain private indulgence.

The controversy deepened with his legal settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022, reportedly worth millions of pounds. While Buckingham Palace and HM Treasury insisted no public funds were used to pay it, the lack of financial transparency around royal income fueled public skepticism. Critics noted that Andrew’s security, property maintenance, and other royal benefits remain covered by taxpayer money—despite his “retirement” from public duties. His finances remain shrouded in secrecy, prompting ongoing calls for an official register of royal interests and expenditures. For many, Andrew has come to symbolize the problem of unchecked privilege: a man shielded by the institution even as he drained the public purse.


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