Home > HEIRS & SPARES

William's Close Friends Addresses Claim He Loaned Andrew 'Hush Money'

Prince William and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attend the Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Samir Hussein/WireImage)

BY ANDREA CUTINHO

Feb. 14 2026, Published 06:21 AM. ET

Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of child sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.

Of all the senior royals, reports indicate that Prince William has taken the firmest stance on his disgraced uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. After a new report alleged that King Charles and Queen Elizabeth helped finance Mountbatten-Windsor's settlement with Virginia Giuffre, William's close friends were quick to distance him from the 'cover-up.' Insiders say the Prince of Wales firmly believes accountability for one's actions matters, and that power and privilege should never be used to silence a person.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Prince William attend the Duchess of Kent's Requiem Mass service. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

In an article on his Substack, royal commentator Rob Shuter documented his source's account, who stressed that William had nothing to do with silencing the case. One of the Prince's close pals allegedly clarified, "William did not give a penny. Not directly, not indirectly, not quietly." According to Shuter, the clarification comes amidst questions about who exactly, other than Charles and the late Queen, pumped Mountbatten-Windsor out of his estimated $16 million settlement. Another source also spoke highly of William's good morals, stressing, "He believes accountability matters. He was absolutely clear he would not fund any payoff, hush money, or settlement."

Prince William, Prince of Wales during a visit to Spiral Skills, a youth organisation in Lambeth who have received funding from the Homewards Fund to expand their services for young people in the local area, on September 9, 2025, in London, England. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Ian Vogler - WPA Pool) — Prince William during a visit to Spiral Skills, a youth organization in Lambeth. (Image Source: Getty Images | Ian Vogler - WPA Pool)

Moreover, insiders also pointed out Charles and William's contrasting approaches in handling the situation. While the King's alleged loan to Mountbatten-Windsor directly ties him to silencing the case, William's allies insist that he deliberately kept his distance. A source spilled, "William understands optics and principles. He wasn't going to risk his credibility by touching this." However, behind Palace walls, Shuter claimed that the episode had only deepened the generational divide over how to handle scandal. An insider argued, "This was Charles' decision. William made sure it was never his."

Prince Andrew with then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre. (Image Source: U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arms around then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre. (Image Source: US Second Circuit Court of Appeals)

For those unversed, Guiffre, who is believed to be the first person to bring Mountbatten-Windsor's downfall, alleged in 2019 that he had indecent relations with her when she was underage and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. In 2021, she filed a civil lawsuit in the US court, which was settled the following year for a reported $16 million, with The Sun alleging Charles and the Queen helped pay for. Meanwhile, the former Prince denied ever meeting her in his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, going so far as to claim that the photo of them together was doctored.

If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453