Prince Andrew has entered into a secret deal with a business giant which will see him act as a networking middleman – a move that will earn him millions.
The disgraced royal will work with Dutch firm Startupbootcamp (SBC), sharing valuable contacts made during his Dragons’ Den-style initiative Pitch@Palace – a project which connected entrepreneurs with investors.
Senior SBC staff initially pitched the idea to Buckingham Palace last summer, before eventually sealing the deal with the Duke of York.
A source told The Sun that the Duke will earn money from each deal SBC secures and that the windfall will help enable him to hold on to Royal Lodge – a Grade II listed royal property in Windsor Great Park and the Prince’s current residence.
‘It is a way of exploiting the enviable business links he has secured over the years,’ they said.
Weeks after the SBC deal was floated, the King pulled his £1million yearly funding for his brother, whom he had been trying to evict from Royal Lodge.
Prince Andrew has entered into a secret deal with Dutch firm Startupbootcamp which will see him act as a networking middleman – a move that will earn him millions
Weeks after the SBC deal was floated, the King pulled his £1million yearly funding for his brother, whom he had been trying to evict from Royal Lodge (pictured)
The future of the Pitch@Palace scheme was in question after the Duke’s disastrous Newsnight interview over links to dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (the pair pictured together in New York in 2010)
But Andrew has still not left the Windsor house, with Palace sources assured about his funding streams.
It was discovered in January that more than £230,000 had been pulled from Pitch@Palace, according to recent accounts documents.
During the financial year up until March 31, 2024, the amount of cash at hand and in the bank at the firm decreased by half, from £454,979 to £220,990.
The accounts, which were filed to Companies House on December 30, showed the withdrawal was signed by Pitch@Palace’s sole director Arthur Lancaster, on behalf of the board.
Last year, around £120,000 was also pulled from Pitch@Palace Global Ltd’s account with its total assets falling from £610,870 to £489,915.
It came amid concerns about the future of the scheme after the Duke’s disastrous Newsnight interview over links to dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The scheme was also at risk after it emerged that a former boss at the company was an alleged spy.
As for his newest venture, CEO of Startupbootcamp Kauan von Novack said: ‘Our mission is to help entrepreneurs to create the change the world needs.
‘We see immense value in the network built up by Pitch@Palace.’
MailOnline has contacted the Duke of York and Startupbootcamp for comment.
