MPs blocked from investigating whether public money was used to fund Prince Andrew’s £12m settlement by ancient custom barring discussion of royals in Parliament
- Prince Andrew this month settled a sex case with his accuser Virginia Giuffre
- She accused Andrew of sexually abusing her three times – claims that he denied
- Ancient rules mean MPs are restricted from discussing royalty in the Commons
- MP now demanding minister come to the House to confirm if taxpayer cash used
- Labour’s Andy McDonald wrote to Steve Barclay to see if Sovereign Grant used
Prince Andrew’s multi-million pound out-of-court settlement with his accuser Virginia Roberts cannot be probed by MPs due to an ancient custom barring the discussion of royals in Parliament.
The Duke of York is believed to be facing a legal bill of up to £12 million following his out-of-court agreement with Ms Roberts, who was suing the Queen’s son in New York for alleged sexual abuse after she claims she was trafficked by his friend and convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. Prince Andrew vehemently denied these claims.
Questions remain over whether the monarch – who is said to favour Andrew – is helping him foot the bill, which includes a £2million donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity, which helps victims of sexual assault and trafficking.
However, an ancient rule means that MPs are restricted from discussing royalty in the Commons and therefore Prince Andrew’s settlement can’t be questioned.
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Middlesborough Andy McDonald has demanded that a minister comes to the House to reveal if any taxpayer money from the Sovereign Grant – cash paid to the royals from the public – was used to pay off 38-year-old Ms Roberts, according to The Sun.
Prince Andrew’s multi-million pound out-of-court settlement with his accuser Virginia Roberts cannot be probed by MPs due to an ancient custom barring the discussion of royals in Parliament
The Duke of York is believed to be facing a legal bill of up to £12 million following his out-of-court agreement with Ms Roberts, who was suing the Queen’s son in New York for alleged sexual abuse after she claims she was trafficked by his friend and convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. Prince Andrew vehemently denied these claims
Labour MP for Middlesborough Andy McDonald has demanded that a minister comes to the House to reveal if any taxpayer money from the Sovereign Grant – cash paid to the royals from the public – was used to pay off 38-year-old Ms Roberts, according to The Sun
Mr McDonald has since written to minister Steve Barclay so he can confirm if any taxpayer money was used at all to pay the out-of-court settlement and establish that ‘no public funds have been or will be used in part or whole in satisfaction of the settlement’.
Mr McDonald said: ‘Raising an issue relating to the Royal Family in the House is fraught with difficulties.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘The Sovereign Grant supports the monarch and certain members of the Royal Family in carrying out their official duties.
‘Prince Andrew stopped receiving support through the Sovereign Grant in 2019 when he ceased carrying out official duties.’
Mr McDonald previously warned there would be ‘an almighty hue and cry’ if it emerged that public money was being used.
‘That would just be a step too far,’ he said. ‘I can’t predict what form that protest would take.
‘But people would be inordinately upset if taxpayers’ monies was used as a payoff for litigation, from a man who was hitherto quite content to be associated with a paedophile [Jeffrey Epstein] and child trafficker [Ghislaine Maxwell].’
It comes as Prince Andrew was recently urged to give up his Earl of Inverness title after settling a multi-million pound rape claim by Ms Roberts.
Mr McDonald has since written to minister Steve Barclay so he can confirm if any taxpayer money was used at all to pay the out-of-court settlement and establish that ‘no public funds have been or will be used in part or whole in satisfaction of the settlement’
The Duke of York was told ‘to do the right thing’ and forfeit the rank amid fury over the civil sex allegation against him.
Locals said they fear the city is being dragged into disrepute over its continued association with the Royal.
Councillor Ron MacWilliam, who is on Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee, wrote to Buckingham Palace to urge the Prince to give up his earldom.
The SNP member, who represents the Inverness Ness-side ward, said the Duke no longer speaks for the city.
He said: ‘Prince Andrew never had much to do with Inverness anyway in the 36 years he has held the title.
‘He’s ever hardly been here to visit. Yet we are being dragged into this by association. We do not want him to be associated with Inverness.
‘But there is no mechanism for us to remove the title so I am writing to Buckingham Palace to get him to do the decent thing and give it up for our city’s sake.’
Advertisement
