Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces embarrassment of debate in parliament this week
The UK’s Liberal Democrats plan to press the government on the former prince’s Royal Lodge deal after he lost immunity to Commons criticism.
The conduct of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be debated by MPs for the first time this week as the ban is lifted on them criticising the former prince in the House of Commons.
When parliament returns from a brief recess on Tuesday, Liberal Democrat MPs intend to press the government on Andrew’s Royal Lodge arrangements, including any advice being provided by ministers on the size of his payout for vacating the property.
Andrew was stripped of his titles by the King two weeks ago and is to move out of the 30-bedroom mansion on the Windsor estate, his home for two decades.
By convention, MPs are not allowed to criticise royals in the Commons. However, as Andrew, 65 is now a commoner, he has lost his immunity to such scrutiny, according to parliamentary officials.
He has been at the centre of a spiralling scandal over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the late pedophile financier. Following weeks of controversy, Charles last month initiated the “formal process” to remove his titles and honours, and notice was served on him to surrender his lease at the Royal Lodge.
Public anger over his refusal to leave the property came to a head last month when it emerged he had not paid rent for more than 20 years. However, questions remain about his access to public funds.
Under terms of the lease, Andrew had been expected to receive pounds 558,000 from the Crown Estate for vacating Royal Lodge early, but the amount is now unknown due to the offset cost of repairs required at the property. The disgraced former prince is also expected to receive a six-figure sum to cover his move and an annual stipend.
A Liberal Democrat source said: “There are still too many unanswered questions surrounding this scandal that the public deserve answers to. That includes the size of the payout Andrew will receive for leaving the Royal Lodge and what advice the government has provided.
“Andrew should be giving evidence to parliament under oath, to finally provide the transparency and scrutiny that has been sorely missing over his links to Epstein and his victims. In the meantime, MPs should have the opportunity to press ministers directly on what involvement the government has had and what the potential cost is to taxpayers.”
Last week, the US Congress wrote to Andrew requesting an interview with him in connection with his “longstanding friendship” with Epstein.
The committee on oversight and government reform said it is investigating the late financier’s “sex trafficking operations” and “financial records such as ‘massage for Andrew’, raise serious questions”.
“The committee is seeking to uncover the identities of Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers, and to understand the full extent of his criminal operations,” it wrote. “Well-documented allegations against you, along with your longstanding friendship with Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation. In the interest of justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, we request that you co-operate with the committee’s investigation by sitting for a transcribed interview with the committee.”
Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said it would be the right thing for Andrew to appear before Congress over his links to Epstein. “He should also give evidence to our parliament. The public deserve answers and full transparency about this scandal,” he said.
Virginia Giuffre, who died in April, accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her after being introduced by Epstein. Andrew has always vehemently denied her accusations.
The Times
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