Prince Andrew Trying To Regain £3 Million Funded Armed Security Taken After Assault Scandal

Disgraced royal Prince Andrew is reportedly working to win back his taxpayer-funded security from the Royal Home Office. The Duke York's funded protection was removed after he lost his HRH title because of his sexual assault scandal. 

Andrew repeatedly denied Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault claims but settled with her. A new documentary on the Duke's scandals has now premiered and forced him into hiding. The documentary explores the Prince's past and friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

Prince Andrew is working to regain his Royal armed security from the Royal Family's Home Office. According to The Sun, the Duke wants his taxpayer-funded £3 million [$3.7 million] bodyguard escort returned. Andrew's Royal protection was removed after he gave up his HRH title because of his sexual assault scandal.

The Royal Home Office has yet to make official comments on the security issue per the Daily Mail, However, a source told the news outlet that "Royal protection is always kept under review" by the Home Office. There have been calls for the removal of Andrew's security detail ever since his scandal began.

According to The Sun, Dame Priti Patel is a voice pushing for a positive review of Andrew's protection. Her emails to King Charles's principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, appealing for the review and discussing Andrew's security detail were leaked to the public.

Dame Patel spoke to the news outlet about the email leaks. She said, "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."

A Royal expert, Ingrid Seward, talked to The Sun about the email leaks and said King Charles would be "deeply embarrassed" by the incident. Seward said the King has avoided getting near Andrew's issue and that Patel "should have known he has no power over these decisions."

Seward further slammed Patel for her "meddling," which she said was "deeply unwise and deeply unfair on The King" and would only affect Andrew's bid. The Royal expert further questioned whether the public should even pay millions for security for "a man who rarely leaves his home."

Andrew lost his good standing as a British Royal after his sexual assault lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre. There was also his controversial November 2019 interview with Newsnight, where the Prince inadequately addressed the criticism of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite repeatedly denying the sexual assault claims, Andrew recently settled out-of-court with Giuffre. Shortly before the settlement, his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, stripped Andrew of all military titles, and he gave up his "His Royal Highness" title.

This also cost Andrew his security detail, which consisted of armed police to escort him anywhere outside Windsor. When King Charles ascended to the throne, he made it clear that his focus was a "slimmed down monarchy" with no excess baggage like Andrew.

Amid his scandals and fight to regain his security, Andrew has reportedly been hiding from the world at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. He started hiding after the recent release of "Secrets of Prince Andrew," a new A&E documentary series that explores the Prince's dirty past and scandals.

The docu-series also explores Andrew's close friendship with late financier and convicted sex felon Epstein. It includes accounts of Giuffre's experience with Andrew and Epstein and how he allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times.

As Andrew retreats to Balmoral, several other royal family members are returning to the castle. It'll be the first family gathering at Balmoral since the death of Queen Elizabeth. Royal expert Pelham Turner spoke to Fox News about Charles inviting Andrew to stay at Balmoral.

He said, "The royal clans are descending on Balmoral. It will be interesting to see how many olive branches grow on royal trees." Turner also noted that Charles may be softer on Andrew because of his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson's ongoing breast cancer battle.