Prince Andrew could face a police probe after he was reported for allegedly using a fake name when registering a company. The Duke of York set up Naples Gold Ltd in 2002 under the name ‘Andrew Inverness’, a reference to the Earl of Inverness title bestowed on him by his mother Queen Elizabeth II when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986.
But anti-monarchy group Republic believes he has provided false information to Companies House, reports the Telegraph. Giving false information to Companies House can result in an unlimited fine or even 51 weeks in prison in England and Wales, or six months in Scotland.
The latest saga comes after we reported another of the Duke’s companies, Urramoor Ltd, was being dissolved. Documents filed with Companies House on January 3 confirmed Urramoor, also registered with the Andrew Inverness title, was being wound up.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic chief executive, has now filed a complaint to the Metropolitan Police about the registration of Naples Gold Ltd, which was dissolved in 2021. Mr Smith said: “The royals appear to believe they can act with impunity, an impression given weight by the lack of police action on serious allegations of corruption and sexual offences.
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“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.”
The Met is said to be considering the report while Andrew’s representatives have so far refrained from commenting. It comes as polling suggests the British public is keen for Andrew to reveal how he secured funding to keep his security team at Royal Lodge after it was removed by his brother, King Charles.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, has reported the Duke to the police
(Image: UGC)
The exact detail of Urramoor’s activities is clouded in mystery but it has been described as “the private investment office of HRH Duke of York” by another company it had a tie-up with. A £210,000 cash injection in December 2023 meant the company was solvent for the first time ahead of it being wound up.
A Met spokesman said: “The Met received a report relating to a Companies House filing. This report will now be assessed to determine whether any further action is required. There is no investigation at this early stage.”
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