Prince Andrew tries win back his £3million-a-year taxpayer-funded

Prince Andrew ‘launches bid to win back his £3million-a-year taxpayer-funded armed security detail’ – after Duke of York was stripped of police protection after settling Virginia Giuffre civil sex assault case

• The Duke of York lost his  protection after being removed as a senior royal 

Prince Andrew has launched a bid to win back his £3million a year armed security, after his private police protection was revoked when he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre, it has been reported. 

The Duke of York, 63, lost his right to protection after he was stripped of his ‘HRH’ title and removed as a working senior royal following the fallout, resulting in him staying out of the public spotlight.   

But now the Prince is reportedly fighting to get his protection back – even receiving the backing from former Home Secretary Priti Patel. 

The Conservative MP emailed King Charles’ top aide, asking whether a review into the Duke’s personal protection ‘could be something to consider’, The Sun reported.   

She reportedly sent the query to the King’s private secretary Sir Clive Alderton who ultimately has no power over any of the security arrangements within the royal family. 

Prince Andrew has reportedly launched a bid to win back his £3million a year armed security

Royal expert Ingrid Seward said last night: ‘The King will be deeply embarrassed by this — the issue is so controversial he won’t go anywhere near it.

‘Ms Patel should have known he has no power over these decisions.

‘Her meddling was deeply unwise and deeply unfair on The King — and will damage Andrew’s cause, not help it.’

Ms Seward also questioned why members of the public should be forced to shell out millions for ‘a man who rarely leaves his home’. 

Ms Patel, 51,  was forced into an embarrassing climbdown last night after details of request had been leaked, leading her to apologies to the King. 

The intervention between the MP for Witham, who stepped down as Home Secretary last year, reportedly came after she met with Prince Andrew’s close friend, PR expert Mark Gallagher. 

She did not tell the paper who she had contacted but said it had been ‘disappointing that this correspondence has been leaked into the public domain’. 

‘I apologise to His Majesty for the embarrassment and difficulties the publishing of this correspondence has caused,’ she added. 

The Duke of York, 63, lost his right to protection after he was stripped of his ‘HRH’ title and removed as a working senior royal following the fallout, resulting in him staying out of the public spotlight.

The Home Office said it would not comment on the matter. Buckingham Palace has also been contacted by MailOnline. 

While he was a working royal, Andrew had been entitled to the taxpayer funded security detail made up of armed police who accompanied him on all visits outside Windsor in Berkshire.

His status as a working royal was removed by the late Queen Elizabeth in January 2022, and when King Charles became monarch he made clear his intentions to pursue a ‘slimmed down monarchy’ – this did not include Prince Andrew.

Yet while money from the public purse is not being used provide protection for the Duke of York, it was reported last year that the King might personally pay £3 million a year to bill his brother’s team of bodyguards. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the reports at the time. 

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