£750,000 from ‘fraudster’ was to fund Princess Beatrice’s wedding
EXCLUSIVE: £750,000 from ‘fraudster’ was to fund Princess Beatrice’s wedding: Astonishing admission from Prince Andrew’s aide in phonecall about cash at heart of new High Court battle
The Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie have also been named in High Court as having received large amounts of cashThe case involves an alleged fraudster who set up a scheme described as ‘apparent money laundering’Turkish millionairess Nehabat Isbilen claims to have been scammed out of fortune by Selman TurkShe claims £1.1 million of her money ended up with Andrew and now Beatrice’s wedding has been used as explanation for payment
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Buckingham Palace told bankers a mysterious £750,000 gift to Prince Andrew was for his daughter Princess Beatrice‘s wedding.
The Daily Mail has obtained details of an astonishing phone call to his private secretary at the time – deepening the riddle over the money.
The Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie have also been named in the High Court as having received large amounts of cash.
The extraordinary case involves an alleged fraudster who set up a scheme described in legal documents as ‘apparent money laundering’. The Mail revealed yesterday how 77-year-old Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen claims to have been scammed out of her fortune by businessman Selman Turk. She is suing him in the High Court over £40million she says is missing.
She claims £1.1million of her money ended up with Andrew. He has repaid £750,000 but has not explained why it was paid into his account at royal bank Coutts in November 2019 in the first place.
Buckingham Palace told bankers a mysterious £750,000 gift to Prince Andrew was for his daughter Princess Beatrice’s wedding. Pictured: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at their wedding
The Mail revealed yesterday how 77-year-old Turkish millionairess Nebahat Isbilen claims to have been scammed out of her fortune by businessman Selman Turk (pictured at a dinner for the Duke of York). She is suing him in the High Court over £40million she says is missing
Now the Mail can reveal that the duke’s former private secretary Amanda Thirsk gave the wedding explanation for the payment. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony in Windsor in July 2020
Mrs Isbilen alleges she was tricked into giving the duke the money by Mr Turk, who she says falsely told her the payment was because Andrew had helped her obtain a passport.
Now the Mail can reveal that the duke’s former private secretary Amanda Thirsk gave the wedding explanation for the payment. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private ceremony in Windsor in July 2020.
The Mail has obtained a transcript of the phone call Mrs Thirsk received from Mrs Isbilen’s bank on November 14, 2019, querying the purpose of the £750,000 transfer from her account to the duke’s personal account at Coutts.
Mrs Thirsk, who was a senior member of the Royal Household at the time but no longer works there, said: ‘It’s a gift for the wedding, a wedding gift.’
The riddle of the money took a series of dramatic twists yesterday as court documents claimed Andrew’s ex-wife was sent payments totalling £225,000, while his younger daughter Eugenie received £25,000, including a £15,000 ‘birthday gift’ – five months before the actual day.
Andrew is not accused of any wrongdoing and he is not central to the complex legal proceedings which are still at an early stage at the High Court.
Mrs Isbilen is the wife of a Turkish MP jailed in their homeland on ‘politically motivated’ charges.
She fled to London, asking Mr Turk to help her move her $90million (£68million) fortune out of the country, the court has heard.
Mr Turk denies dishonestly ‘misappropriating’ her money. He says that Mrs Isbilen decided to give Andrew the money ‘on her own initiative’.
Former Goldman Sachs banker Mr Turk, 35, has been living in a property owned by the Queen, court documents suggest.
The £750,000 payment to the duke was made nine days after Mr Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace, Andrew’s Dragons’ Den-style scheme for entrepreneurs.
Mr Turk could not be contacted for comment.
Andrew’s spokesman said: ‘We are unable to comment on an ongoing legal case’, while a spokesman for his ex-wife said: ‘The Duchess was completely unaware of the allegations that have since emerged against Mr Turk.
‘She is naturally concerned by what has been alleged against him.’
Mrs Thirsk said she ‘would not be involved in anything improper’.
