The Duke of York’s past business dealings remain shrouded in mystery, sparking calls for greater transparency and accountability. Researchers investigating Prince Andrew’s “opaque” finances claim their freedom of information (FoI) requests are regularly refused, making their work impossible.
The latest controversy surrounds Yang Tengbo, 50, a businessman and confidant of Prince Andrew who was excluded from the UK in 2023 due to concerns over his ties to China. Yang denies being a Chinese spy, but the Chinese embassy has accused some UK parliamentarians of trying to “smear” China.
Andrew Lownie, author of the book Entitled: The Controversial Lives of the Duke and Duchess of York, has submitted over 100 FoI requests in four years, citing the lack of transparency as a major concern. Documents related to Andrew’s decade-long role as special representative for UK trade and investment could reveal who accompanied him on his international trips and what their purpose was.
The duke’s business dealings have been scrutinized due to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his involvement in the Pitch@Palace entrepreneur scheme. The scheme has significant cash reserves and is controlled by the Duke of York through a trust, despite being dissolved in 2021.
Calls for a register of royal interests and a full inquiry into royal finances have been echoed by Norman Baker, a former government minister. He argues that such mechanisms would provide accountability similar to those in place for MPs and members of the House of Lords.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/18/prince-andrew-opaque-finances-calls-for-register-royal-interests