Charles III bars former Prince Andrew from using his funds to pay police lawsuit
Version 2: A fuller report from Kommersant added specific facts: the case is a lawsuit against Thames Valley Police over February 2026 searches at Sandringham, Buckingham Palace called it a personal matter and said it supports the police, and the king's annual payments to his brother are estimated at more than £1m a year.
In short
King Charles III and Buckingham Palace have made clear that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, cannot use the funds provided for his upkeep as the king's brother to pay for his lawsuit against police. The case concerns February 2026 searches at his Sandringham estate, carried out in an investigation of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein; his lawyers are challenging the search warrants. The palace says the lawsuit is his personal matter and that the royal family fully supports the police, Kommersant reported, citing the BBC.
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King Charles III and Buckingham Palace have made clear that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, cannot use the funds he receives for his upkeep as the king's brother to pay for his lawsuit against police. Kommersant reported, citing the BBC, that the palace stressed the case is his personal matter. TASS, citing a source close to Buckingham Palace, reported that the king indicated the money he provides should not be used to finance court proceedings. RIA Novosti reported that Charles will not give the former prince money for a court case with police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Kommersant, citing the BBC, Buckingham Palace said the royal family is not involved in choosing his legal strategy and fully supports the actions of the police. The Russian state outlets did not carry this statement, and neither TASS nor RIA Novosti named their sourcing beyond TASS's reference to a source close to the palace. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that the former prince filed the lawsuit against Thames Valley Police over searches at his Sandringham estate in February 2026. His lawyers want to establish whether the search warrants, issued in connection with an investigation of his ties to the American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, were lawful. Kommersant reported that police are examining the former prince on several counts, from abuse of office and passing secret government data to Epstein to other sexual offences. If the lawyers prove the searches were unlawful, the newspaper said, a court could annul the warrants, which would make it impossible to use the evidence found at his estate in a potential criminal case. [ 3 ]
On the money itself, Kommersant reported that the king pays his brother annual funds covering expenses and personal security, that the exact sum is not disclosed and that some estimates put it above £1m a year. The money comes not from taxpayers but from the king's personal income from a property, land and investment portfolio, the newspaper said. Its practical effect, according to Kommersant, is to separate the former prince's personal legal dispute from the resources of the monarchy: regular support does not give him access to the royal institutional position in a dispute with law enforcement. [ 3 ]
Kommersant noted that the decision continues measures taken in October 2025, when Charles III deprived his brother of a title. The account of those measures is cut off in the text available. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The decision separates the former prince's personal legal dispute from the resources and institutional position of the monarchy, Kommersant reported. Because the case turns on the legality of the search warrants, its outcome could determine whether evidence found at Sandringham can be used in any criminal proceedings against him.
Key facts
- King Charles III has made clear that the funds he provides to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, should not be used to pay for his lawsuit against police, according to TASS, which cited a source close to Buckingham Palace. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that Charles will not give the former prince money for a court case with police. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reported, citing the BBC, that Buckingham Palace stressed the lawsuit filed over searches at his estate is his personal matter, that the royal family is not involved in choosing his legal strategy and that it fully supports the police. [ 3 ]
- The lawsuit was filed against Thames Valley Police over searches at his Sandringham estate in February 2026, and his lawyers want to establish whether the search warrants were lawful. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that the king pays his brother annual funds covering expenses and personal security, that the exact sum is not disclosed and that some estimates put it above £1m a year, paid from the king's private income rather than from taxpayers. [ 3 ]
- TASS published its report on 5 October at 20:39 local time, RIA Novosti at 21:19 the same day and Kommersant on 6 October at 16:14. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The identity and reliability of the source close to Buckingham Palace cited by TASS. TASS refers only to an unnamed source, and no official confirmation of that account is reported.
- The exact amount of the annual payments the king makes to his brother. Kommersant says the exact sum is not disclosed and gives only estimates of more than £1m a year.
- Whether the search warrants will be annulled and what happens to the evidence found at Sandringham. Kommersant describes this as a possible outcome if the lawyers prove the searches were unlawful; no ruling is reported.
- The status of the police investigation, which Kommersant says covers several counts. The offences are described in a single document, and no charges are reported.
- What measures from October 2025 the decision continues. Kommersant's article states that Charles III deprived his brother of a title in October 2025, but the sentence is cut off in the available text.
- Buckingham Palace has stated that the lawsuit is his personal matter and that the royal family supports the police, Kommersant reported, citing the BBC. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS publishes its report, citing a source close to Buckingham Palace, that the funds Charles III provides to the former prince should not be used to finance court proceedings. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes its report that Charles III will not give the former prince money for a court case with police. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant publishes a fuller account, citing the BBC, of the palace position and the lawsuit against Thames Valley Police. [ 3 ]