A Conservative MP has called for police to investigate an offshore company linked to Prince Andrew, amid fresh questions about whether it may have helped fund the royal’s lavish lifestyle during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
The company, Inverness Asset Management (IAM), was jointly owned by Andrew formally known as Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and property tycoon David Rowland.
According to documents, the firm was registered in the British Virgin Islands in 2007 and operated for more than a decade before being wound up in 2019.
The offshore company is believed to have targeted wealthy investors, including contacts Andrew met during his role promoting British business interests abroad.
Offshore Fund Targeted Wealthy Investors
Documents suggest IAM encouraged ultra-rich individuals to invest in a fund called the Blackfish Money Plus+ Fund, which was structured in the Cayman Islands, another well-known offshore financial centre.
Entry into the fund reportedly required a minimum investment of $1 million.
Promotional material for the scheme said investors would largely come from IAM’s network, including “royal families, high-net-worth families, heads of state and government institutions”.
MP Calls for Police Inquiry
Mike Wood, a Conservative MP and shadow Cabinet Office minister, said the allegations surrounding the offshore company were serious enough to warrant a police investigation.
He said:
“These allegations are deeply concerning and the police must urgently investigate the matter to establish the full facts.”
Police Seeking Leaked Emails
Investigators from Thames Valley Police are already attempting to obtain a cache of leaked emails reportedly exchanged between Andrew and members of the Rowland family.
The correspondence is believed to include communications with David Rowland and his son, financier Jonathan Rowland.
Andrew is reported to have owned a 40 per cent stake in IAM, while the remaining 60 per cent was held by the Rowland family through their investment company.
The firm reportedly grew out of what documents described as a “longstanding relationship” between Andrew and Rowland, who was said to act as an adviser on financial matters.
Wealth and Lifestyle Questions
During his decade as the UK’s trade envoy; a role he held until 2011 Andrew frequently travelled internationally to promote British commercial interests.
During that period he was photographed aboard luxury yachts, flew by private jet and built a collection of high-value watches, including a £150,000 Patek Philippe.
In 2014, Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson also purchased a £13 million ski chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.
It remains unclear whether the Blackfish Money Plus+ Fund ever formally operated. However, documents indicate that IAM received a $640,000 payment from another Blackfish fund in 2008.
Payments Allegedly Discussed for Princesses
Leaked emails have also raised questions about potential financial arrangements involving Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Correspondence between Andrew and Jonathan Rowland suggested the royal expected to receive £300,000 from David Rowland, with portions potentially allocated to the princesses.
The messages indicated that each daughter could receive £50,000, with part of the funds then invested in an investment firm called Jellybook.
Sources close to the princesses said they had no recollection of such payments and had requested access to historic banking records.
Sensitive Information Allegedly Shared
Further leaked emails appear to show Andrew sharing confidential information about the planned sale of Lloyds Banking Group branches in 2011.
At the time, Lloyds was under pressure from the European Commission to sell hundreds of branches following its £20.3 billion government bailout during the financial crisis.
Emails suggest Andrew passed details of the planned £3 billion asset sale to Jonathan Rowland shortly after meeting the bank’s chief executive.
There is no evidence that the information was used commercially.
Calls for Wider Investigation
Former business secretary Vince Cable said the allegations should form part of ongoing police inquiries into possible misconduct in public office.
He said:
“If I, as a minister or senior civil servant, had passed on information of that kind, we would have been in serious trouble.”
Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office following revelations linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files, though he has denied any wrongdoing.
Police have now reportedly requested access to the leaked Rowland emails as part of their investigation.
Representatives for the Rowland family were approached for comment, while Andrew did not respond to requests for a statement.
