Prince Andrew Thread 3

[Roussette]

Here is the previous thread...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_royal_family/4443261-Prince-Andrew-Thread-2?watched=1&msgid=114083283#114083283

By the way, Andrew actually spent more than £7.5M renovating the property. The excess also does not count as the lease did not require him to spend that much.

I wonder what the lease with refurbishment would have cost on the open market?
www.womanandhome.com/life/royal-news/royal-lodge-prince-andrew-sarah-ferguson-windsor-family-home-285330/

The Duke of York was granted a lease agreement by the Crown Estate for 75 years. The property leased included the Royal Lodge, a Gardener's Cottage, the Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages, and police security accommodation in addition to 40 hectares of land.

Given that the taxpayer is covering the security bills of five former prime ministers, all of whom are multi millionaires, this is the least of my worries. It’s peanuts in the catalogue of reasons to be angry about Andrew Windsor.- I would be very surprised if Gordon Brown is a multi millionaire.

pigalow I was hoping that those 5 ex PMs didn't include Gordon Brown.

@prh47bridge

By the way, Andrew actually spent more than £7.5M renovating the property. The excess also does not count as the lease did not require him to spend that much.

Do we know where he got the money from?

It's been discussed a lot on here how royal family members like Andrew are not cash rich and how this makes them vulnerable to super-wealthy types with ulterior motives.

Why wouldn't you want Gordon Brown to have security?

Gordon Brown has a net worth of $15m

Do we know where he got the money from?

Jeff or his mum.

[quote AllThePogs]I wonder what the lease with refurbishment would have cost on the open market?
www.womanandhome.com/life/royal-news/royal-lodge-prince-andrew-sarah-ferguson-windsor-family-home-285330/[/quote]
Moot point, it never was or will be on the open market.

Who'd want to hurt Gordon Brown?

Thanks prh, I misunderstood the nature of the Crown Estate. I thought her Majesty controlled it.

Is there a way to view this lease out of nosiness or is it not public?

@Skiptheheartsandflowers

In the Duke of Windsor's day there were still colonies he could be sent to govern (not that I'm convinced he actually did a 'proper job' in that capacity). Not so for Andrew. Where could the Queen send him? I actually think the Profumo route would be the only possible one. Earn some kind of redemption by doing charity work for the rest of his life. Though he probably wouldn't appreciate how lucky he would be to even be in that position.

Prince Andrew has not yet been found guilty of anything. He may or may not (he says not), have, years ago, slept with a girl who was underage in one place but not others. The trafficking business was not known then.

People are generally considered innocent until proven guilty, why can we not await the outcome of the court case.

It is also quite usual for a person to be suspended from duties pending outcome of investigations and court case,

We have yet to find out the truth and may never, I hope we do to put an end to this sordid business and I wish the press would stop making more of it.

Why do you wish that though blyn ? Do you think what Andrew gets up to should be hidden from the public, like in the old days?

Virginia G at the time was only a few years older than his own daughters - yuck. Even if he didn't sleep with her, he knew very well what Jeffrey Epstein had been tried and convicted for - yet he continued to associate with him and even said in his Newsnight interview that he didn't regret the friendship. Dodgy as fuck.

If we are to have a royal family, even if you go along with that, surely in return for all the palaces, money and deference from society the public are entitled to expect decent and truly 'honourable' behaviour from them. Not too much to ask, is it?

@BIWI

Why wouldn't you want Gordon Brown to have security?

I would, if it is considered that he needs it. Perhaps I am being nasty but I don't see him as a grabby type, so I expected other former PMs to be multi-millionaires but not him. If I try to be realistic a person only needs to own one fairly big house in certain areas of London to have assets worth several million. And here I am thinking a 25p fudge bar from the local shop is a big treat.

@Blossomtoes Yes I saw it was referred back a few times with questions about the amount and they decided to accept it as it could not go on the open market. It looks like Andrew paid way below the open market rate.

@CarlatheJackal

Who'd want to hurt Gordon Brown?

Thanks prh, I misunderstood the nature of the Crown Estate. I thought her Majesty controlled it.

Is there a way to view this lease out of nosiness or is it not public?

No, it isn't public I'm afraid. What we know about it comes from a National Audit Office report which you can view at www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2005/04/royal_property_leases.pdf

[quote AllThePogs]@Blossomtoes Yes I saw it was referred back a few times with questions about the amount and they decided to accept it as it could not go on the open market. It looks like Andrew paid way below the open market rate.[/quote]
Royals are meant to at something within spitting distance of market rent for properties, unless they are working royals (its why some moved out of KP)

Presumably the Dukes time there straddled his suspension from duties, and they won't seek further changes until all legal actions are concluded

@blyn come on he is guilty as hell. He was so obviously lying in that Matliss interview. Why would an innocent man lie in a TV interview?

Point of detail: she's bringing a civil case, not a criminal one, so they're not assessing guilt but liability.

People are generally considered innocent until proven guilty, why can we not await the outcome of the court case.

That is entirely a criminal law concept that exists in the context of whether or not the state can impose punishments on people.

It has no bearing on truth - or decency - or how people should be treated outside of the criminal justice system.

99.5% of rapists are never convicted. Doesn't mean they're innocent as a point of fact and doesn't mean anybody has to pretend they're not rapists.

Being over the age of consent doesn't mean consent is automatic or that you cannot be raped. What a bizarre argument to make in an abuser's defence.

The Duke of York was granted a lease agreement by the Crown Estate for 75 years. The property leased included the Royal Lodge, a Gardener's Cottage, the Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages, and police security accommodation in addition to 40 hectares of land

WHOOAAHHH, hang on - can we just redial on that a minute??

I was aware of course that he's at Royal Lodge and the police quarters were obvious - though not now he's no longer a working royal - but really didn't know about the rest of it

I'd ask what the hell he needs with that lot, but am afraid it'll be that the other siblings have massive great houses so he can't possibly have less

@WinnieTheW0rm I know the civil case is deciding legally on liability.
I am not a judge though.
Before the Matliss interview, I was unsure. But Andrew was very clearly lying through his teeth all through that interview. So yes I do think someone who lies on TV about the case, again and again, do so because they are guilty.

@Puzzledandpissedoff and when you see that list of properties and land you realise what a bargain Andrew got.

Re the lease, is that supposed to be purely living accommodation for Andrew or is it also to house staff?

Surprise surprise that info is protected by Freedom of Info Act.