King Charles Cuts Off Andrew’s Legal Cash as High-Stakes Court Fight Begins

0:03 Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. Thames Valley Police is asking the High Court to restrict access to documents in Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's legal challenge over search warrants. Meanwhile, The Telegraph reports that King Charles has told his brother that the private allowance he receives must not be used to pay for the case. A hearing before Mr Justice Hillard is scheduled for Thursday at 2 in the afternoon. It will begin in private. Police will explain how releasing certain documents could affect their continuing criminal investigation. Media organisations will be allowed to make representations before a final decision if the judge is considering restricting access.

0:52 Andrew is seeking to overturn warrants issued by an old Bailey judge ahead of searches at his Norfolk residence in his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. His claim challenges the lawfulness of the warrants and, according to the Telegraph, officers' actions when carrying them out. Andrew has strenuously denied wrongdoing. He was interviewed under caution and released under investigation. A Thames Valley police spokesperson told The Independent, Whilst our investigation into misconduct in public office continues, we are engaged in legal proceedings in relation to warrants previously obtained from the Central Criminal Court. As these legal proceedings are currently ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further. In the Express, Emily Ferguson writes, If the judge rules in Andrew's favour and the searches are found to be illegal, the case against the former prince risks becoming null and void.

1:45 The former prince desperately wants to prove his innocence and right the wrongs done against him. But the consequence of this is thrusting the scandal back into the spotlight, causing a fresh headache for the king and the palace to deal with, just when they thought the matter had been dealt with. The judicial review also raises another question. Who will foot the legal bill? Andrew has limited resources at his disposal, with his older brother understood to be giving him an annual allowance from his private income. But the King has made clear that none of his money should be used to fund a judicial review, so the plot thickens. However, if Andrew were to win the case, the court is likely to order Thames Valley Police to pay a substantial portion of his legal fees. Whatever the outcome and whatever the cost, the news of Andrew's legal challenge will unlikely be welcomed by the firm, which had been determined to put the Andrew question to bed. Matthew Cain, CEO of costs law firm Cain Knight, tells the Express, Given the high-profile nature, I would not be surprised if costs were in the hundreds of thousands. It's clearly an important point for both Andrew, Mountbatten, Windsor and the police, and I'd expect both sets of legal teams to be sufficiently armed with leading silks and juniors. In the Telegraph, Hannah Furness observes, It is the first time a member of the royal family has challenged the lawfulness of criminal actions against them since Charles I in 1649, and we all know how that went. It is also another judicial review after the one the Duke of Sussex brought over his security. We know how that went too. The King could be forgiven

3:17 for being in despair, with barely a break in royal headlines all year, on stories from the Sussexes to Earl Spencer. The Andrew issue has gone quiet for a while, but is now back with a vengeance. No one in the royal family will thank the former Prince for dragging himself back into the public eye, let alone creating the prospect of more court hearings. This is the last roll of the dice for a desperate man. The police investigation looked to have stagnated, and this is movement. If he wins, it will at least put the idea of his innocence or injustice back in the public imagination, but it will not be a win that matters. The best he could hope for is a return to a country social life of sorts, and enough time passing for his presence in public to be unremarkable. But Mr Mountbatten-Windsor will not stay quiet for long. This legal action will break the stalemate.

4:05 It is a gamble, and it may prove to be one worth taking, but it is just a step. There is only one way Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor can clear his name, and that is by actually clearing his name. More palace in just a moment. The Duchess of Edinburgh has visited Prince George's new school, but her appearance at Eton was for a musical competition rather than a family catch-up. Aunt Sophie attended the Windsor Festival's inaugural international string competition final, standing in for Prince Edward while he was on a royal tour of North America and Edward is the festival's patron. George, who started at Eton last month, was reportedly unlikely to have attended. The school's break from October 2nd to 4th also meant he may have been at home with William and Catherine. PETA is facing a Charity Commission review of a complaint about its campaigning, including its criticism of William and Kate after their dog, Orla, had puppies. The animal rights organisation called the couple staggeringly out of touch, pointing to the number of rescue dogs waiting for homes. Now a group called Peter Watch has accused the charity of putting publicity ahead of animal welfare. GB News reports that the complaint has been passed to the regulator's relevant team for review and consideration. No finding against Peter has been announced.

5:22 Peter has challenged other royal practices too. Its founder wrote to King Charles asking him to distance himself from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels because of concerns about breeding dogs for their appearance. William and Kate have sent Dame Kelly Holmes a personal letter thanking her for speaking openly about her mental health at a suicide prevention event in Liverpool. The double Olympic champion joined the couple at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in September for the launch of On Your Side, a toolkit designed to help people recognise when someone may need support. Writing on behalf of himself and Catherine, William said, Catherine and I wanted to thank you for joining us at the On Your Side launch event at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this month. We really appreciate you giving your time so generously and for sharing your story as part of the day. It was so powerful to hear you speak so openly about your experience and the importance of one simple conversation. I recognize articulating these experiences is not always easy, but your words will have helped countless people both in the room and beyond. Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to championing mental well-being and supporting young people. Dame Kelly described receiving the letter as a pinch-me moment and thanked the couple for their kind letter.

6:37 Prince William joined actor Ross Kemp in Somerset to launch a project helping communities prepare for emergencies and tried to get a few traitors' spoilers along the way. The Prince of Wales and the actor took part in an emergency training exercise in Ilm Minister for Ready Together, a National Emergencies Trust initiative. William is the charity's royal patron while Kemp is an ambassador. The project encourages existing community groups to use their local knowledge, contacts and resources to prepare for disruption, including flooding and extreme weather. But Kemp's appearance on the BBC's celebrity version of The Traitors also became a talking point. He was delighted to discover that William and Catherine are fans. That's great, them and the rest of the country. I've been on the TV for 43 years, but I've never known anything like this. Even the fella at my local garage wanted a selfie. He's never been bothered before. Asked about his role in the program, Kemp smiled and said, I am a faithful. The pair also recreated a moment inspired by Kemp's suspicion that he was being targeted by other contestants. William laughed as he tapped the actor's shoulder while Kemp pulled an exaggerated, frightened expression.

7:48 Kemp connected that watchfulness to the day's emergency preparations, saying, You need to be paranoid in an emergency. It means you are ready for what's coming. William met members of Elminster's under-16 football club to discuss how they could help protect themselves and their community when the River Isle floods. Conversations soon returned to the television show. William told the teenagers, I'll get Ross to tell me the answer about what happens. Spoiler alert. And there you have it. If you'd like to email us, our address is thepalaceintriguedgmail.com. If you're on Spotify, leave us a comment. If you're on Apple, hit that button up there that says Listen Uninterrupted. Get the show for five bucks a month, commercial free. I'm Mark Francis.

8:28 My thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigue. Good times.