‘The royals appear to believe they can act with impunity’
Prince Andrew has been reported to the police over claims he used a fake name to register a company.
The report was made by Graham Smith, who runs the anti-monarchy group Republic. He claims the Duke of York used the pseudonym ‘Andrew Inverness’ when he set up a company in 2002.
Smith also claims the royal “erroneously listed an address in London as his residential address.”
According to LBC, police are assessing the complaint to determine if further action is required.
Smith claimed that whilst the alleged use of a pseudonym by Andrew “may seem trivial,” it is evidence “the royals appear to believe they can act with impunity”.
He said: “The apparent filing of false information with Companies House may seem trivial, but the UK faces serious issues of fraud committed in this way.
“While no such fraud is alleged here, surely Andrew must be held to the highest standards.
“As it is an offence under the Companies Act to file false information there must surely be a public interest in pursuing the matter when it’s such a high profile figure allegedly doing it.
“We expect the police to pursue this matter without fear or favour, something they seem to struggle with when it comes to the royals.”
The alleged fake name is thought to be derived from Andrew’s lesser titles, the Earl of Inverness.
The police report comes after Andrew reportedly did not spend Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham. This was following reports that the prince had links to an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo.
According to the MailOnline, Andrew decided not to attend Christmas celebrations so as not to embarrass his brother King Charles.
Tengbo was banned from Britain by the government on national security grounds. During his time in the UK, he twice visited Buckingham Palace, and had a connection to Andrew through a project set up by the prince that aims to support entrepreneurs.
Andrew says he “ceased all contact” with Yang following government advice, but has not specified when this was.
The Duke of York stepped back from royal duties amid controversy over his links to billionaire child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
