Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed driving yesterday with a large bruise on his face. Whichever unfortunate ‘well-placed source’ that has the responsibility for reassuring the public about the disgraced former royal’s wellbeing insisted that the injury was not down to some outraged former lover or member of the public attacking him. Nevertheless, they said, it could not be revealed for ‘medical confidentiality’.
However disfiguring the injury, however, it seems insignificant when compared to the even more bruising round of revelations that have emerged about Andrew’s financial situation – this time involving his former home of Royal Lodge.
It has been known for years that the royals’ finances in general and Andrew’s in particular are somewhat opaque, and with good reason. A new report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) suggested firstly that Andrew had been subletting several of the cottages that were on his grounds and secondly that he had been pocketing the money himself, rather than investing it in any public or royal endeavours. These payments continued even after he had been evicted in disgrace last year.
This unedifying saga shows no signs of dying down
This comes on the heels of the embarrassing disclosure that Andrew was living rent-free in Royal Lodge after paying £7.5 million in 2003 for its refurbishment costs. It suggests that his ever-vigilant attitude towards filling his considerable pockets began closer to home.
