EXPOSED: Andrew’s messages about £100,000 payment for Beatrice and Eugenie from tycoon known as ‘Spotty’ that have sparked demands princesses ‘come clean’ about their finances – and Beatrice’s eye-poppingly jet-set year
EXPOSED: Andrew’s messages about £100,000 payment for Beatrice and Eugenie from tycoon known as ‘Spotty’ that have sparked demands princesses ‘come clean’ about their finances – and Beatrice’s eye-poppingly jet-set year
Secret financial ties between royal father and billionaire investor unravel as MPs question princesses’ spending habits
Recent revelations have intensified scrutiny on Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie following the discovery of communications implicating their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in arranging secret payments from a controversial businessman referred to as ‘Spotty’. The Mail on Sunday uncovered these exchanges, which suggest the princesses may have received £100,000 in total, with £50,000 allocated to each, while Andrew himself was expected to receive £300,000 from the same source.
The emails, shared with the newspaper, detail discussions between Andrew and his son Jonathan Rowland regarding the distribution of funds. Jonathan reportedly confirmed the plan, asking: “Just so I am clear. 50k each to the girls?” Andrew’s response outlines a complex financial arrangement, including investments in Jellybook, an enterprise Jonathan had launched, and transfers to Drummonds Private Bank.
“I have explained to Amanda [Thirsk, Andrew’s aide] what was intended. That is 50 [thousand] each to the girls. 25 for Jellybook each. 50 for me. The remainder of the £300, £150 plus an additional £100k to be transferred to Drummonds. All this to be done once receipt of the £300 happens.”
David Rowland, the tycoon dubbed ‘Spotty’, has been a central figure in the controversy. His £730 million wealth, amassed through property and investments, led him to return to the UK over three decades earlier to support the Conservative Party’s 2010 campaign with £2.7 million. The Mail on Sunday previously highlighted his role in advancing business interests with Andrew during his tenure as trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Jonathan Rowland, now 50, accompanied Andrew on official missions, where he promoted his family’s bank, Banque Havilland. The duo also co-owned a company in the British Virgin Islands, a well-known tax haven, which was allegedly used to attract wealthy contacts for an offshore investment scheme.
MPs have raised questions about the financial transactions, particularly whether the princesses received payments in exchange for their father’s advocacy of Rowland’s ventures. The controversy deepens amid public curiosity about how Beatrice, earning £19,500 annually as an ‘international production analyst’ at Sony Pictures, managed to afford 17 holidays in 2015 alone.
While the princesses have yet to confirm the payments, sources indicate they have requested their historical banking records for review. The leaked messages not only expose Andrew’s role in the arrangement but also underscore the growing pressure on the royal family to clarify their financial activities.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have been dragged further into the scandal engulfing their father Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Pictured: The trio in 2016
Rowland, who was pictured in the front row at Eugenie’s 2018 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, also attended the event alongside supermodel Kate Moss. The following year, the Mail on Sunday revealed how Jonathan Rowland’s involvement in trade missions aligned with his father’s business interests, further linking the family to the controversy.
Andrew’s messages also clarify the source of the funds, stating: “if DJR [David Rowland] puts £300k in then £150 i
