York Sisters Reportedly 'Refused' Prince William's Audit Request — and It's Raising Questions
The monarchy’s future hinges as much on what it cuts loose as what it carries forward. According to royal historian Andrew Lownie, unresolved financial questions involving the York sisters risk repeating mistakes the Palace has promised not to make again, especially after what went down with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In a recent episode of The Lownie Report podcast, Lownie raised pointed questions about how closely Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have been tied to their parents’ business dealings, and whether they have resisted efforts to bring greater transparency to their finances. His reporting suggests this is not merely about appearances, but about whether lessons from past royal controversies are being ignored. “How entwined do we think the princesses are with Andrew and Fergie’s business dealings?” Lownie asked. Further, “Well, we know they were pretty firmly entwined.” He pointed to the fact that both daughters were taken on overseas trade trips at public expense during their father’s working royal years, allowing them to build what he described as “a very useful contacts book.”
Those contacts, Lownie argues, have since become valuable assets. Both Beatrice and Eugenie have worked in roles linked to client relations, and he noted that there are “plenty of occasions where they’ve been out promoting their father’s businesses abroad,” particularly in the Middle East and the Far East.
He cited Pitch@Palace—Mountbatten-Windsor’s now-defunct initiative—and a failed attempt involving a Dutch company to monetise contacts gathered through what was meant to be a charitable platform. Lownie also questioned more recent associations. “Even recently, Beatrice has been out promoting a Saudi bank,” he said, adding that some charitable work linked to the region “does seem to be laundering operations of some pretty dubious characters there.” He was clear that, in his view, “knowing the Yorks, they don’t do anything for free.”
The most serious concern centres on financial transactions that surfaced during a 2022 court case. Lownie highlighted money paid into one of the princesses’ bank accounts that, he said, could not be clearly explained. The funds were linked to Selman Turk, who had faced legal action for embezzlement, and were channelled through entities including Alphabet Capital and a businessman named Adrian Gleave.
“This money… was being channelled through the daughter’s bank account,” Lownie said. “So one wonders how many other funds have been channelled through their bank accounts.” He added that the Yorks “refused to comment on it, to explain this money,” a silence that has only deepened suspicion.
According to Lownie, Prince William’s advisers sought clarity by asking whether the princesses would agree to have their finances audited. “They refused to do so,” he said, a decision he believes “doesn’t send out… very encouraging signs.” He went further, arguing there is “a case for HMRC to look at the tax affairs of the York family,” suggesting their business arrangements may not have been fully transparent. When asked what William can realistically do, Lownie described a “tug of war” between the Prince of Wales and King Charles. “His father is keen to show that he’s boss,” he said, but suggested their approaches to the York family differ sharply.