Prince Andrew splurged on a private jet to go to a golf tournament months before he quit his royal duties and this expense, shouldered by British taxpayers, reportedly cost around $20,000 (£16,000).
There was no other means to go to the golf tournament at the Royal Portrush Golf Club except via a plane. So, the Duke of York took a private jet from Hants to the Open Championship in Northern Ireland, where he stayed for three days.
It was billed as an official royal visit "on behalf of his patronage," according to a Palace source who disclosed the cost via The Sun. The arrangements made for the Duke of York did not entail a scheduled flight at the airport from London to Belfast.
Prince Andrew used a charter because it covered all the bases in terms of efficiency, security and value for money, the Palace source explained. It had been the most viable option for the Queen's son at that time.
However, the said golf club did drop the Duke of York as its patron in November 2019, after his career-ending BBC interview into his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But, Prince Andrew's three-day trip wasn't the costliest royal engagement in the last financial year. According to Daily Mail, Prince Harry and Meghan's trip to South Africa, as well as side trips to Malawi, Botswana and Angola in the fall of 2019, cost over $312,000 (£245,000) of taxpayers' money.
But, royal aides said that the visit was an important undertaking for the Foreign Office and resulted in highlighting many charities. The Sussexes had over 20 engagements during that trip and helped raise awareness of causes and advocacies championed by the royals, including Princess Diana. The aide said that the trip successfully achieved the objective.
In contrast, Prince William and Kate Middleton's trip to Pakistan around that same time was about $150,000 (£117,116). Prince Charles and Princess Anne also chartered official trips that cost thousands of the people's money.
According to the Republic, an anti-monarchist group, the royal family is guilty of money abuse as they keep spending on helicopter or plane trips when they could take a car or the train. The group's spokesperson Graham Smith said the money abuse is far worse for Prince Andrew because he used public funds to go golfing.
The news comes as the Buckingham Palace said this year's funding will have a sharp drop amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though many royal engagements were canceled, any savings made will not be enough to cover for upkeep and salaries.
A source from the Palace said no extra public funding will be sought despite the perceived financial loss. Prince Andrew is also no longer receiving money from the Sovereign Grant when he resigned from his royal duties.
