As questions grow over who funded the York sisters’ lavish lifestyles, how a Libyan gun smuggler was invited to Eugenie’s wedding, while bride Beatrice received ‘£750,000 as a gift’ from Turkish millionairess
Investigations into the substantial wedding presents given to Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice have raised new questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s financial activities, as revealed in a recent book.
Entitled
Historian Andrew Lownie, in his book Entitled, uncovered details about how certain high-profile guests at Princess Eugenie’s 2018 wedding were connected to her parents’ financial networks. Among them was Tarek Kaituni, a convicted Libyan firearms dealer, who had gifted her a £18,000 diamond necklace for her 21st birthday. Meanwhile, Turkish businesswoman Nebahat Isbilen was reportedly linked to a £750,000 transfer into the Duke’s personal account, allegedly earmarked for Beatrice’s ceremony.
These revelations have sparked scrutiny into how the princesses’ extravagant lifestyles were supported. Their parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, have long been associated with various financial ventures, with some suggesting these networks funneled resources to their daughters. The book highlights how such ties have fueled doubts about the sustainability of their opulent spending habits.
“I just remember thinking, ‘How did he get through…'”
In 2018, Eugenie’s fairy-tale wedding at Windsor Castle featured a list of VIPs, including Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Ellie Goulding, and Cara Delevingne. Among the attendees was Dr. Johnny Hon, a Hong Kong tycoon known for his business relationship with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. She had joined his venture capital firm, Gate Ventures, the year prior, but tensions arose when Chinese investors challenged the company’s financial practices.
According to the book, the firm faced claims that it provided misleading information about loans to Ginger & Moss, a company founded by the Duchess. Of the £24 million raised from shareholders, £19 million was allegedly lost. Subsequent reports detailed “lavish” expenditures and “unusual transactions” involving offshore entities, including a loan to Manuel Fernandez’s company, vVoosh, which the Duchess had invested in.
Dr. Hon claimed all expenses were “for the benefit of Gate and legitimate business,” but a judge noted the irony: “That is not the purpose for which these small Chinese investors paid their money into the company.” The same source highlighted a £3 million charge to the firm, which included a £8,000 meeting with the Duchess for tea. Meanwhile, Nebahat Isbilen, who was suing Turk for £40 million, alleged that a £750,000 payment in 2019 was tied to her efforts to secure a Turkish passport.
Three years after the wedding, the princesses also embarked on a four-day Tunisian trip, funded by a Middle Eastern billionaire. The trip reportedly included a visit to Colonel Gaddafi, further linking the royal family to international financial connections. These ties gained renewed attention in 2022 following the Virginia Giuffre settlement, which exposed more questions about the Duke’s finances.
