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
Questions Surround the Financial Support Behind the York Sisters’ Excesses
A recent examination of the extravagant financial support given to Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice has stirred new doubts about the financial dealings of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to a new publication. The book *Entitled* by historian Andrew Lownie highlights how certain high-profile guests at Eugenie’s 2018 wedding, including a convicted Libyan firearms dealer, were connected to the royal family’s spending habits.
Guests and Gifts Linked to Royal Finances
Tarek Kaituni, a former Libyan gun smuggler, was among the attendees at Eugenie’s nuptials, where he had previously gifted her a £18,000 diamond necklace for her 21st birthday. Meanwhile, Turkish businesswoman Nebahat Isbilen reportedly transferred £750,000 into Andrew’s personal bank account, allegedly for Beatrice’s ceremony. These transactions have raised eyebrows, especially as they tie back to the princesses’ parents and their financial strategies over the years.
“It is a gift for the cost of the wedding or a gift to Princess Beatrice… I mean, I’m not sure it makes much difference, does it? What she and her family decide to do with it is really to do with them, isn’t it?”
Isbilen, who was also suing business adviser Selman Turk for £40 million, claimed Turk had misused funds, including a £750,000 payment to Andrew’s account in 2019. Turk reportedly stated this sum was intended to help Isbilen secure a Turkish passport. The payment occurred just nine days after Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace for his digital bank concept, which some described as “appalling.”
Andrew’s financial entanglements gained further scrutiny following the Virginia Giuffre settlement in 2022, which rekindled questions about his wealth. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was central to these discussions, as her involvement with Gate Ventures—a firm she joined as a non-executive director—was linked to a £24 million funding round. Chinese investors later accused the company of misleading shareholders, alleging £19 million of the funds had been “lost.”
Expenses and Allegations of Misuse
Gate Ventures was also accused of excessive spending, with reports citing unusual transactions involving offshore entities and deals with its directors. Among these was a loan to Manuel Fernandez’s company, vVoosh, which the Duchess had invested in. Dr Johnny Hon, a Hong Kong tycoon and Gate’s chair, was said to have charged £3 million in expenses, including £8,000 for a tea meeting with Sarah.
“No part of the spending was for my personal benefit or personal enjoyment. It was hard, often exhausting, but necessary work.”
Despite Hon’s defense of the expenses as “legitimate business costs,” critics argued they were indirectly tied to the royal family’s lavish lifestyle. The presence of Kaituni and Turk at the 2018 wedding, along with the Tunisia holiday funded by a Middle Eastern billionaire, has deepened the mystery of how the princesses’ extravagant spending was sustained during their youth.
