Suella urged to restore Andrew’s gun cops
A TORY grandee seeking to restore Prince Andrew’s £3million-a-year armed police protection made a personal appeal to the Home Secretary at a private function.
He is said to have ‘sidled up’ to Suella Braverman to plead the Duke of York’s case after Andrew lost his taxpayer-funded, roundthe-clock bodyguards when he was stripped of official duties over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Mail on Sunday understands that the senior Tory, a knight, is one of several high-profile figures recruited by the Duke to assist his fightback. Another is said to have messaged Mrs Braverman along similar lines. All approaches were rejected politely.
A concerted campaign to try to reverse the decision has been going on for several months. Last week it was revealed that Andrew had won the backing of former Home Secretary Priti Patel.
She emailed the King’s private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, suggesting that a review of the Duke’s protection ‘could be something to consider’.
It is understood that although
Sir Clive has no power over Royal security arrangements, he notified the King. Dame Priti apologised to Charles after her approach was leaked. The Mail on Sunday has been told that Dame Priti caused consternation by referring, by way of comparison, to the security of other Royals and former Prime Ministers. The details of these arrangements are secret.
Her email was sent from a Parliamentary account. Andrew’s PR guru friend Mark Gallagher, ITV’s former director of corporate affairs, was copied in.
Dame Priti also said that while the decision to downgrade Andrew’s security was made while she was Home Secretary, there was no ‘ministerial oversight’ of the process. The decision was taken by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, which oversees such arrangements.
In January last year, Andrew was told to stop using His Royal Highness, and all military titles and royal patronages were returned to the late Queen.
Months later, he settled out of court with Virginia Roberts, who accused him of sexual abuse, which he denies vehemently.
Andrew, who lives at Royal Lodge in Windsor, still benefits from 24-hour protection at the royal estate, but he was said to have been angered last year by the prospect of losing taxpayerfunded security away from home.