Alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew banned from the UK

ferry23

Tizliz

Wonder how much his mother left him?

"Monarch to monarch". The monarch's entire estate is left to the next monarch. It's a system put in place to be most efficient with regard to inheritance tax.

I didn't know that, but I am sure she slipped him a few quid (can't get emojis to work today, this is a light hearted comment)

Casdon

He’s certainly taking from the Royal Family’s reputation. I wish he’d accept Adelaide Cottage to relieve his money issues, and accept that he will never have a public role again, then he should fade into a graceful obscurity.

He won't do any of those things. He was over indulged by his mother and has a very high opinion of himself as a result. For me, he has always been the most unpopular Royal. Lazy, untruthful, pompous and entitled.

If he was your average Joe Blow he would be jailed as a traitor. Reminds me of the Nazi loving king who abdicated in the 1930s.

Given whats going on in the world, it's incredible that nearly all todays newspapers headline him. I'm sure MI5 are keeping an eye open. I doubt we will see more similar scandals.

Andrew has been offered Frogmore Cottage, not Adelaide which is occupied by Prince William and his family. I feel so sorry for the King over this, what with Prince Harry and his shenanigans, suffering from cancer, a totally disgraced and disgraceful Archbishop of Canterbury, and now this from his brother. His reign seems to be dogged by bad luck over and over again. Andrew refuses Frogmore for? goodness knows why, as quite frankly he's lucky to be offered anything at all.

nanna8. Presumably you are talking about the Duke of Windsor aka Edward V111th who did indeed visit Hitler's Germany. I would point out that accounts of those years make it quite clear that many people both in this country and in Europe supported Hitler as a bulwark against communism and the evils of Stalin's Russia which was in fact worse than Germany, particularly in Ukraine. The Dukes visit was in October 1937, and therefore before the full horror of Nazi Germany had even happened, never mind known about. The history of these times, leading from Germany's defeat in WW1 and the impossible reparations demanded of that broken country,leading to the next war are an interesting read. The Duke wasn't quite the traitor he has been painted as being, more going along with others including our own politicians of that time, except of course Winston Churchill who was later proved to have been 'the voice in the wilderness '.

Jaberwok

Andrew has been offered Frogmore Cottage, not Adelaide which is occupied by Prince William and his family. I feel so sorry for the King over this, what with Prince Harry and his shenanigans, suffering from cancer, a totally disgraced and disgraceful Archbishop of Canterbury, and now this from his brother. His reign seems to be dogged by bad luck over and over again. Andrew refuses Frogmore for? goodness knows why, as quite frankly he's lucky to be offered anything at all.

I did mean Adelaide Cottage. He has refused Frogmore Cottage already, but if he did a direct swap with William and Kate he would see it as saving face and getting a better deal for himself, because they have young children so need more space?

On a R4 programme yesterday a journalist commented that Prince Andrew is seen by many people as a ‘boorish Hooray Henry’, which I suppose just about sums it up.
Though IMO there’s probably just a soupçon of ‘Tim Nice But Dim’. too.

Tizliz

ferry23

Tizliz

Wonder how much his mother left him?

"Monarch to monarch". The monarch's entire estate is left to the next monarch. It's a system put in place to be most efficient with regard to inheritance tax.

I didn't know that, but I am sure she slipped him a few quid (can't get emojis to work today, this is a light hearted comment)

Don't let Rachel Reeves know they have found a way to pay less inheritance tax!

Jaberwok

Andrew has been offered Frogmore Cottage, not Adelaide which is occupied by Prince William and his family. I feel so sorry for the King over this, what with Prince Harry and his shenanigans, suffering from cancer, a totally disgraced and disgraceful Archbishop of Canterbury, and now this from his brother. His reign seems to be dogged by bad luck over and over again. Andrew refuses Frogmore for? goodness knows why, as quite frankly he's lucky to be offered anything at all.

Is Andrew's daughter Eugenie living in Frgmore Cottage? She was living there on a temporary basis.

It was gifted to Harry and Meghan by Elizabeth II but belongs to the Crown Estate, so the present Sovereign owns it, I suppose.

Smileless2012

He has no power, no say in anything of any importance and I very much doubt any knowledge of anything that could jeopardise national security.

A lot of fuss about nothing IMO.

Yes and no.

His own ego and self-importance may lead him to feed mis-information in order to portray himself as "important".

And that is sometimes just as dangerous.

Good post @ 11.19 Jaberwok, as you say Edward V111 wasn't quite the traitor he's been painted.

A good point ferry but I doubt due to being constantly publicly discredited, anyone would now take anything he may have to say seriously.

Thank you Smileless2012. The postwar life of King Edward was imo very sad. Completely pointless and judging by photographs, an existence of sad hopelessness at a life wasted and a throne lost. He rarely looked happy. I rather fear this will be Prince Harry's lot in later life. In both cases, what a sad waste!
I think the Kings idea is for the Wales' to move into Royal Lodge and for Andrew to move to Frogmore Cottage. Eugenie did live there but not any more. There has never been any suggestion that Andrew moves to Adelaide cottage.

I agree Jaberwok. Neither he nor Wallis appeared to be particularly happy with the vacuous life they led and I think you're right about Prince Harry's life going in the same sad direction.

The similarities are a little bit, history repeating itself. Both these Princes were extremely popular when they were young men, both charming, handsome, excellent company.and, in the case of the then P of W, the total despair of poor George Vth and Queen Mary! Both anxious to be married, both completely besotted with their wives, to the point of their own destruction. Variation on a theme?!

Wyllow3

I think this bit from the article says it all really

"A document listing "main talking points" for a call with Prince Andrew was also found.

It states: "IMPORTANT: Manage expectations. Really important to not set 'too high' expectations - he is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything."

He's not getting anything from the public purse, is he?

Of course he is! He may no longer be a wsorking royal but he still gets an income (which I understand is quite large) from him being the Duke of York. There are too many freeloaders in the royal family, living in their large house with all the expenses paid, while the rest of us can't afford to put our heating up!!

Is this fresh to the national papers? IMO The King must have been aware for a while?
Andrew is an idiot, however the late Queen had a friendship the Anthony Blunt, another Spy.

Visgir1

Is this fresh to the national papers? IMO The King must have been aware for a while?
Andrew is an idiot, however the late Queen had a friendship the Anthony Blunt, another Spy.

I expect Anthony Blunt was charming and they would only have talked about art.

I cannot imagine HM Queen Elizabeth ever giving state secrets away!

Newatthis

Wyllow3

I think this bit from the article says it all really

"A document listing "main talking points" for a call with Prince Andrew was also found.

It states: "IMPORTANT: Manage expectations. Really important to not set 'too high' expectations - he is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything."

He's not getting anything from the public purse, is he?

Of course he is! He may no longer be a wsorking royal but he still gets an income (which I understand is quite large) from him being the Duke of York. There are too many freeloaders in the royal family, living in their large house with all the expenses paid, while the rest of us can't afford to put our heating up!!

I'm not sure he does get an income merely by being the Duke of York.

He had an allowance as a working royal which was stopped when he had to stand down. Probably the late Queen bankrolled him for the couple of years until she passed away. Then the King, via the Duchy of Lancaster which he inherited from his Mother, paid him an allowance (1 million, I believe), but this has now been withdrawn.

He received a small navy pension (around £20k p.a). However, any other income is a bit of mystery. He received vastly inflated sums from the sale of Sunninghill Park and the chalet in Verbiers, but of course he now has to pay for his own security as Charles has stopped that as well.

His sources of income are probably as dodgy as his choice of friends.

Andrew doesn't receive any public money, certainly not by being the Duke of York, that hasn't been the case for, I think, two centuries.or more. None of the RF are in receipt of public money except the King. Prince William gets his income from the Duchy of Cornwall, the others only if they're on public business.

His ex wife has certainly been busy with public appearances and tv interviews

I assume she has to make her own way in the world Anniebach, I doubt she has private means?

She doesn’t make her own way she uses the ‘all the advice the Queen gave me ‘.

Casdon

I assume she has to make her own way in the world Anniebach, I doubt she has private means?

Well, she still lives in the same house as Andrew although I'm not sure of their arrangements,.

Unfortunately Andrew has become the stereotypical spoiled favourite child. Expecting everyone to think he is special and a prey for anyone who wants to get something out of him. For the Andrews of this world flattery really will get you anywhere.