King Charles is reportedly refusing to pay Prince Andrew’s £32,000-a-year bill for a healing guru. The Duke of York has reportedly submitted the claim to the Privy Purse as a royal expense having sought the help of a yoga teacher.
However, the claim has reportedly been denied by the King, who is said to have told Andrew the bill will need to be covered using his own money. Andrew, 63, has been using the Indian yogi for a number of years to help with his chanting, massages and holistic therapy in the privacy of his mansion. The healer has reportedly enjoyed month-long stays at a time at the £30 million Royal Lodge in Windsor.
His claim submission comes after years of Prince Andrew’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, signing off the expenses. However, Charles, who became King in September after the Queen’s death, is scrutinising claims put forward having now been handed control on the Duchy of Lancaster’s annual £24 million income.
Royal palace insiders added: “While the Queen was always happy to indulge her son over the years, Charles is far less inclined to fund such indulgences particularly in an era of a cost-of-living crisis. Families are struggling at these times of a global slowdown and would rightly baulk at the idea of tens of thousands paid to an Indian guru to provide holistic treatment to a non-working royal living in his grace and favour mansion.”
Incidentally, the refusal to oblige his younger brother comes after reports that suggest Andrew could be banned from wearing ceremonial robes to the King’s coronation on May 6.
The Duke of York is said to be furious after being kept in the dark over a decision on whether he can dress in the grand velvet robes and glistening insignia denoting his position as a Knight of the Garter.
Charles is reportedly torn over whether to allow his disgraced brother to don the theatrical regalia after Andrew was forced to step back from royal duties following a sex abuse scandal.
The Duke paid £12 million in an out-of-court settlement to his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, and continues to deny all allegations. He was subsequently blocked from appearing alongside the late Queen in her final appearance at the traditional Garter Day procession in Windsor.
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