UK royal Prince Andrew triggered a new row by using a Royal Range Rover fitted with blue emergency lights.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip’s second son, the 63-year-old Prince Andrew, was banished from royal duties for his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein but critics were surprised to see him still using royal privileges.
A report by the Mail on Sunday said that Andrew used the 4X4 for horse-riding trips in Windsor and lunch at Harry’s Bar, a private, exclusive members’-only club in Mayfair.
The newspaper said that Andrew was photographed driving the vehicle in Windsor and in central London. He is often followed by his security who drive a £60,000 Land Rover Discovery.
The Range Rover used by the Duke of York and the ‘back-up’ Land Rover is fitted with police lights as well as amber hazard lights as part of a fleet leased by the Royal Household.
The general public in the UK are barred from fitting blue lights to their car but a special arrangement exists for all members of the Royal Family in order to use the vehicles for official engagements and police convoys.
The report said that the blue lights in Andrew’s Range Rover have never been switched on.
Citing officials in the Scotland Yard, the newspaper said the special treatment given to Andrew has raised eyebrows. Some have questioned why the ‘vehicle fitted with emergency equipment is being driven’.
“There is no justification for Andrew having these blue lights. The vehicle should be withdrawn. It’s highly inappropriate, suggests arrogance and sends out a message that he is entitled to services that the average citizen wouldn’t be. There needs to be a review so only working Royals should have access to this privilege,” former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal was quoted as saying by the Mail on Sunday.
“Andrew does not need or warrant these blue lights in the current circumstances. The only rationale would be if his threat level changes and his police protection is reintroduced,” Dai Davies, former head of royalty protection at Scotland Yard, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
In late 2019, Andrew was compelled to relinquish his Royal duties following a disastrous Newsnight interview regarding his association with Epstein, who had died in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in August of that year.
In 2022, Andrew reportedly settled with Virginia Giuffre for £7 million. Later that year, he was formally stripped of his Royal title and police protection. He vehemently denied all allegations against him.
“When his adored mother died, Charles got everything and Andrew got the corgis. He is clinging on to one of the last bits of prestige he can. There is no purpose to Andrew having these blue lights, except for allowing him to hold on to a special privilege and status symbol,” author Margaret Holder, who wrote about the UK royal family, told the newspaper.
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