The royal drama just took another jaw-dropping turn.
Newly resurfaced emails suggest King Charles was warned years ago about his brother Prince Andrew’s alleged business dealings — and now those claims are roaring back into the spotlight following Andrew’s recent arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
According to a report from the Mail on Sunday, a whistleblower contacted Charles in August 2019 — when he was still Prince of Wales — through the royal law firm Farrer & Co. The message reportedly raised serious concerns about Andrew’s relationship with controversial financier David Rowland.
The email allegedly accused Rowland of “abuse of the Royal Family” and claimed Andrew appeared to place his business ties above family loyalty. At the time, the warning landed quietly. Now, it’s exploding back into public view.
Andrew, who stepped back from public royal duties in 2019 amid mounting controversy, was recently arrested and later released under investigation. He has not been charged, and he continues to deny wrongdoing. The potential offense under review carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Allegations of Secret Banking Deals
The whistleblower reportedly claimed that Rowland paid Andrew to help secure a Luxembourg banking licence for Banque Havilland, Rowland’s private bank. The message allegedly included what were described as Andrew’s bank account details.
Rowland has denied wrongdoing. In comments reported by the Mail on Sunday, Jonathan Rowland said he had “no idea” about the email sent to Charles and dismissed suggestions of impropriety as “idiotic,” insisting, “You can’t procure a banking licence.”
The controversy deepens with claims that Andrew referred to Rowland as his “trusted money man” in communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Reports also allege that Rowland and his son accompanied Andrew on overseas trips during his time as the UK’s trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Trade Trips Under the Microscope
During his decade-long stint as trade envoy, Andrew traveled extensively to promote British business interests abroad. Now, some of those trips are facing renewed scrutiny.
One allegation claims Andrew flagged business opportunities to the Rowlands tied to official visits in countries such as China and former Soviet states. Another suggests he may have used a trade mission to support associates pursuing a multi-million-pound oil deal in China — allegedly hoping to generate substantial profits.
The report also claims Andrew discussed having a “very supportive chat” with then-Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband during Prince William’s 2011 wedding — a period when public criticism of Andrew’s trade role was intensifying after publication of a now-infamous photo of him with Virginia Giuffre when she was 17.
Political Pressure Mounts
As the investigation unfolds, pressure is building.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they have begun contacting current and former protection officers who worked closely with Andrew to determine whether anything they witnessed may be relevant to the probe.
A Buckingham Palace source declined to comment directly on the whistleblower claims, citing the ongoing police investigation, but indicated that any relevant material should be passed to authorities.
Defence minister Luke Pollard said removing Andrew from the line of succession would be “the right thing to do.” High-profile attorney Gloria Allred, who has represented victims linked to Epstein, told the BBC that members of the Royal Family should fully cooperate with investigators if asked.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the fresh claims as “shocking, but not surprising,” while Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel called the revelations “horrific.” Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick insisted that “no stone must be left unturned.”
Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing. King Charles has not publicly addressed the resurfaced email.
But as old warnings resurface and investigators dig deeper, one thing is clear: this royal scandal is far from over.
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