Princess Beatrice’s Visits to the Middle East Might Be Related to Prince Andrew’s Finances

Prince Andrew is calling Royal Lodge his permanent home after acquiring funding to not only take care of the upkeep of the Windsor estate but to also pay for his on-property security. Nobody knows where the money came from, but a few people in the U.K. are side-eyeing Princess Beatrice right now. 

The Duke of York’s oldest daughter makes frequent visits to the Middle East and the Daily Mail seems to think that’s where Andrew found someone to “bankroll his stay at Royal Lodge.” The royal’s critics want him to “come clean” about who the money source is as the media outlet noted Beatrice’s recent speech about AI at the Adipec energy conference in Abu Dhabi on November 4 came right around the time of her father’s financial announcement.

Her trip might offer some clues because they noticed she was placed next to Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a billionaire from a wealthy family with strong ties to London. “There was a general feeling that Beatrice was an unofficial ambassador for the UK,” journalist Hadley Gamble told the media outlet. “Beatrice was quite literally in the inner circle at a gathering of global energy CEOs, top finance guys, and policymakers.” Beatrice has made multiple trips to the area this year and that’s why it’s raising eyebrows. 

Beatrice isn’t the only one in the family traveling to the Middle East, Princess Eugenie recently attended a conference in Qatar. Al-Monitor journalist Jennifer Gnana told The Times that the women, particularly Beatrice, are extensions of King Charles III’s reign. “[Beatrice has] become a culture ambassador of sorts for the UK in the Middle East,” Gnana said. “She seems a popular, more accessible figure in the Middle East, particularly as we’re seeing fewer senior royals such as the King, Prince William and Kate making visits here. I suppose Princess Beatrice represents a more modern and accessible face of the British monarchy that works for engagement in the Middle East.”

Even though  Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, has verified that Andrew’s money has come from “legitimate sources,” it seems strange that he suddenly has the means to pay for his security, the $1.3 million allowance Charles used to give him, and the upkeep on a historic estate. It’s why people keep asking questions.

Financial expert Norman Baker told the Daily Mail that he wants an investigation to happen. “It is stretching credibility to believe he has legitimate sources of income that enable him to pay a big rent and undertake the necessary repair work, to that building, particularly when he appeared to have nothing just a matter of weeks ago,” he said on Nov. 9. “We need to understand where this money is coming from – whether it is clean or whether it is coming from one of his nasty dictator friends in the Middle East. He should come clean.”

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