The former home secretary admitted Charles had been ’embarrassed’ (Picture: Getty)
Priti Patel has apologised to the King over a letter in which she reportedly suggested Prince Andrew should get his taxpayer-funded protection back.
Andrew lost the police detail after giving up his HRH title amid the scandal surrounding his out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
It means he has to pay for his own private bodyguards whenever he leaves the royal estate in Windsor – which he ‘rarely’ does now, according to royal watchers.
In a letter to Charles’ top aide, seen by the Sun, Ms Patel said a review of the situation ‘could be something to consider’.
Prince Andrew, seen here attending an Easter Sunday service this year, rarely leaves home (Picture: Getty)
She is also said to have made references to the scrapping of Prince Harry’s police protection in the UK, which Harry is fighting in the courts.
The aide, Charles’ private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, does not have any power over royal security arrangements.
Ms Patel made her apology on Wednesday after learning that The Sun had seen the letter.
Ms Patel issued her apology after learning of the supposed ‘leak’ (Picture: Getty)
She told the newspaper: ‘It is disappointing that this correspondence has been leaked into the public domain and I apologise to His Majesty for the embarrassment and difficulties the publishing of this correspondence has caused.’
The backbencher has not commented with any further detail on how the letter was supposedly ‘leaked into the public domain’.
The Duke of York was sued by Ms Giuffre for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein.
He has effectively retreated from public life after his controversial 2019 BBC Newsnight interview focusing on his friendship with Epstein.
Prince Andrew has retreated from public life since his Newsnight interview (Picture: Mark Harrison)
Andrew has always denied the allegations against but paid millions of pounds in an out-of-court settlement in the US civil case.
Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of all his honorary military roles ahead of the settlement, and he gave up his HRH style.
Insiders widely agree King Charles is keen to avoid discussing his brother’s situation wherever possible.
Buckingham Palace, Dame Priti and the Conservative Party have been approached for comment.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
The former home secretary reportedly asked Charles’ top aide to ‘consider’ giving Andrew taxpayer-funded police protection again.