Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, reportedly plans to relocate to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as early as next year amid growing controversies and his exclusion from the Royal Family’s activities.
Andrew Lownie, who is writing a biography of the prince titled “Entitled: The Controversial Lives of the Duke and Duchess of York,” confirmed to The Daily Beast that Andrew continues to have exclusive access to at least one fully staffed private palace in Abu Dhabi, despite not technically owning it.
On December 16, 2024, British courts identified Yang Tengbo, previously known only as “H6,” as a Chinese businessman suspected of being a spy. Documents found in Yang’s possession indicated that “Andrew was in a desperate situation and will grab on to anything.” Yang ran the Chinese arm of Andrew’s Pitch@Palace initiative, with Andrew entitled to a two percent cut of investment deals.
Norman Baker, a former British government minister, stated, “While Andrew’s involvement with Epstein was pretty distasteful, the real scandal is his abuse of his position as U.K. trade envoy to enrich himself.”
The prince’s financial dealings have come under increased scrutiny. Recent revelations show that Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters received $1.75 million from alleged fraudster Selman Turk. Additionally, Andrew received $3.75 million above the asking price when selling his home in 2007 to the son-in-law of Kazakhstan’s then-president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
King Charles III excluded Andrew from the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations following the latest scandal, with Andrew notably absent from the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 19, 2024. This comes after earlier attempts to reintegrate Andrew and his ex-wife into royal life gradually.
Andrew’s connections to Abu Dhabi date back to his time as United Kingdom trade ambassador over a decade ago, when he had free use of what was described as a “gilded mini-palace” in the UAE capital. His then-spokesman confirmed the arrangement, stating the Abu Dhabi Royal Family provided the villa for personal and professional use.
The move to Abu Dhabi appears strategic. According to Lownie, “It makes sense for him; there is good weather, he is treated with deference, there are a lot of golf courses, and he can conduct his business affairs however he sees fit.” The historian also noted that Andrew’s family members, including his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, have established connections in the Middle East.
If Andrew relocates to Abu Dhabi, he will join another controversial royal figure, Spain’s King Juan Carlos, who has lived there since 2020 following his corruption scandal.
