Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 01, 2025

Andrew's fury after £3m-a-year taxpayer-funded cops to be axed within weeks

Andrew's fury after £3m-a-year taxpayer-funded cops to be axed within weeks

PRINCE Andrew is furious with ministers after being told that his taxpayer-funded police guard is to be axed next month.

The scandal-hit royal, 62 — who was stripped of his official duties in January — still wants the public to foot the bill of up to £3million a year for his gun cops.

The armed guards are estimated to cost up to £3 million to the taxpayer each year

Prince Andrew paid out £7million to sex accuser Virginia Roberts

He is set to formally complain about the decision - even though Brits are being clobbered by the worst cost of living crisis since World War Two.

The Duke of York is escorted by police guards whenever he leaves the grounds of Windsor , Berks.

It is estimated to cost the taxpayer up to £3million every year.

But he is to lose his round-the-clock guards in mid-December after being stripped of his official duties in January in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal.

And the latest decision suggests he has no real hope of returning as a working royal any time soon

A source told the Sun on Sunday: “He is going to write to the Home Office and the Met Police to complain about losing his taxpayer-funded security.”

Andrew’s diva-like demand for continued taxpayer funding is likely to spark a backlash from the public as they struggle with rocketing bills

One senior Labour MP said: “He doesn’t seem to understand that he’s in disgrace and people don’t want to hear from him any more — especially him with his begging bowl.

“I know he has a title, but that doesn’t mean he is entitled to taxpayer-funded protection.

“I know families who don’t know if they will be able to afford their kids’ Christmas presents this year.


Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles earlier this year by The Queen

Andrew suffered an astonishing fall from grace following the sex trafficking scandal surrounding his financier pal Epstein.

The Duke was forced to step down from official royal duties in late 2019 after a BBC interview.

Outraged viewers accused him of failing to show any sympathy for victims of paedophile Epstein — who killed himself in prison in 2019 after being convicted of sex offences.

Andrew also paid a reported £7million out-of-court settlement with sex accuser Virginia Roberts after she agreed to drop the case against him.

He vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

It has left him the most unpopular royal, with just eight per cent of Brits saying they like him, according to the latest poll by YouGov.

This year he was stripped of the title His Royal Highness and all his military honours after a showdown meeting with Queen Elizabeth.

Prince Andrew was said to be her favourite son. But in his new book Elizabeth, An Intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandreth says the late monarch had no hesitation in acting following his disastrous Epstein interview.

He has not undertaken any official public duties since and has been occasionally snapped out horse riding.

Andrew has repeatedly tried to plot a return to public life, but has been blocked by King Charles and Prince William who fear his return would plunge the monarchy into crisis.

The King has also vowed to slim down the institution.

Earlier this year, it emerged that Andrew had a collection of stuffed teddy bears on his bed at Buckingham Palace.

Staff had to arrange them meticulously or risk “abuse”, an ex-royal protection officer claimed.

The Duke is the second royal to kick off over the removal of protection officers.

Prince Harry is suing the Government for refusing to splash taxpayers’ cash on bodyguards for him and his family when in the UK.
Prince Andrew’s spokesperson was approached for comment.

The Home Office said: “It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on protective security.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×