The disgraced Duke of York has struck a secret deal to act as middleman for a business giant that will earn him millions, according to reports.
Prince Andrew and Dutch-based firm Startupbootcamp have entered a commercial agreement to use contacts he made from his Pitch@Palace initiative.
Under the agreement, the 64-year-old royal is paid for each deal SBC strikes in territories worldwide, The Sun says.
The idea was suggested to Buckingham Palace officials last summer before the deal with Andrew agreed.
Weeks later, the King pulled his £1 million annual funding for his brother who he had been trying to evict from Royal Lodge. But Andrew has remained at his Windsor home.
A source told the newspaper: “He will earn money from each deal SBC secures from his Pitch@Palace work and the windfall will help enable him to hold on to Royal Lodge.
“It is a way of exploiting the enviable business links he has secured over the years.”
Furore erupted in 2019 over Andrew’s friendship with convicted US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his “car crash” Newsnight interview to defend himself.
He stepped away from his public role and later paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.
The duke hit the headlines once again last year after a High Court hearing revealed alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK, was said to have been a “close” confidant.
Kauan von Novack, CEO of Startupbootcamp said: “Our mission is to help entrepreneurs to create the change the world needs.
“We see immense value in the network built up by Pitch@Palace.”
A Palace source told The Sun: “Buckingham Palace officials have neither reviewed nor approved the details of any financial arrangements between the Duke or his advisers and any third party.”
The Duke of York was approached for comment.
