As questions grow over who funded the York sisters’ lavish lifestyles, how a Libyan gun smuggler was invited to Eugenie’s wedding, while bride Beatrice received ‘£750,000 as a gift’ from Turkish millionairess
Investigations into the York Sisters’ Lavish Spending Uncover Surprising Connections
A recent examination of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s generous six-figure ‘wedding gifts’ has cast new light on the financial dealings of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to a new book. The revelations, detailed in Entitled by historian Andrew Lownie, spotlight unusual contributions from foreign figures and raise questions about the royal family’s spending habits.
New Book Exposes Royal Finances
Lownie’s work reveals that a convicted Libyan firearms dealer, Tarek Kaituni, was among the attendees at Eugenie’s 2018 wedding. This individual had previously gifted her a £18,000 diamond necklace for her 21st birthday. Meanwhile, Turkish businesswoman Nebahat Isbilen was reported to have transferred £750,000 to Andrew’s private bank account, allegedly for Beatrice’s ceremony.
Link to the Princesses’ Parents
These extravagant expenses are frequently tied to the princesses’ parents and their financial ventures. The presence of high-profile contributors, such as Kaituni and Isbilen, has fueled speculation about how the sisters’ opulent lifestyles were sustained during their early years.
The 2018 Royal Wedding and Its Controversies
The 2018 nuptials of Eugenie at Windsor Castle featured notable guests like Naomi Campbell and Cara Delevigne, alongside a Hong Kong tycoon, Dr. Johnny Hon. Hon was acquainted with Sarah Ferguson, who had recently joined his company, Gate Ventures, as a non-executive director. However, this association soon became contentious when Chinese investors contested the firm’s financial practices.
Gate Ventures’ Financial Struggles
Following a legal dispute, claims surfaced that Gate Ventures had provided misleading data about loans to Ginger & Moss, a company founded by Sarah Ferguson. It was alleged that of the £24 million raised from shareholders, £19 million had been “lost” in the process. Subsequent reports highlighted additional expenditures, including unusual transactions with offshore entities and loans to Manuel Fernandez’s business, vVoosh.
Dr. Hon’s Expenses and Defense
Lownie notes that Dr. Hon’s involvement with the royal family reportedly led to significant financial commitments. These included £3 million in expenses, such as £8,000 for a tea meeting with the Duchess of York. A judge remarked,
“That is not the purpose for which these small Chinese investors paid their money into the company.”
Hon defended the charges, stating,
“All activities charged to the company were ‘for the benefit of Gate and were legitimate business expenses.’”
He further added,
“No part of the spending was for my personal benefit or personal enjoyment. It was hard, often exhausting, but necessary work.”
Additional Controversies and Later Developments
Three years later, the princesses’ parents were said to have financed a four-day trip to Tunisia, which included a visit to Colonel Gaddafi. Kaituni and business consultant Selman Turk were both linked to Andrew, with Turk reportedly assisting in obtaining a Turkish passport for the former duke. The Virginia Giuffre settlement in 2022 added further scrutiny, as Isbilen, who was suing Turk for £40 million, connected the payment to Andrew’s finances.
