The Scottish Greens have said there is no justification for Prince Andrew continuing to hold royal titles or receive publicly funded benefits, following years of controversy and ongoing questions over his conduct.
North East MSP Maggie Chapman has called on the UK Government to publish a full breakdown of the public money spent on the Duke of York, including housing, security, and any additional support.
“Andrew Windsor is an awful man who still enjoys immense wealth and privilege at public expense, despite the shame he has brought and the litany of extremely serious allegations that surround him,” said Ms Chapman.
“There is no excuse for such a disgraced individual to be allowed to keep any of the perks and titles that have been bestowed upon him, whether it is his Dukedom or the mansion that he has paid no rent on for decades.”
Prince Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019, retains his Duke of York title and continues to live at Royal Lodge in Windsor, reportedly rent-free.
“It’s obviously very hard to be sacked from a hereditary position but, despite having every advantage that anyone could ever wish for, he has shown himself to be totally unsuitable for it,” Ms Chapman added.
The Scottish Greens say the situation reflects a wider problem with the structure and accountability of the Monarchy itself.
“The issue here is far greater than one man.
“It is about the power that we place in one totally unaccountable family,” said Ms Chapman.
“Why would we choose to have a system where someone as unsuitable as him could be only a few accidents away from being King?
“It’s not just the titles that we need to discuss, it is the Monarchy as a whole.
“It is an outdated and anti-democratic way to run a country.
“It was completely inappropriate for the 20th century let alone the 21st.
“It’s time for us to finally move on from Monarchy and build a genuine democracy.”
There has been no official response from Buckingham Palace or the UK Government regarding the call for a financial breakdown.
