Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has been embroiled in yet another financial controversy, this time involving a settlement with Nebahat Evyap Ibsilen, a 77-year-old Turkish millionaire. Ibsilen alleged that Selman Turk, a 37-year-old fraudster, swindled over $50 million from her, including nearly $1 million that was supposedly transferred to Prince Andrew under dubious circumstances.
Ibsilen initially engaged Turk to assist in transferring her wealth from Turkey, only to find herself victimized in a large-scale financial deception. Part of her money, she claimed, was diverted to Prince Andrew, with the assertion that he had facilitated her obtaining a British passport. There were also claims that the funds were a wedding gift to one of Andrew's daughters. Amid these allegations, Prince Andrew has maintained his innocence, echoing his stance in previous scandals that have tarnished his reputation.
This incident adds to a string of controversies surrounding the Duke, who was previously linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In a high-profile case, he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein and Maxwell's trafficking victims, who accused him of sexual assault when she was 17. Although Andrew denied the allegations, the case was settled out of court in February 2022, with the Prince agreeing to make a substantial donation to Giuffre's charity supporting victims' rights.
The royal family, already concerned about Andrew's connections to Epstein, fears the potential emergence of more damaging revelations. An insider earlier this year expressed apprehension about the ongoing Epstein investigation, suggesting that "more stuff is going to come out."
Royal expert Esther Krakue commented on the situation, noting that King Charles III is acutely aware of public sentiment, particularly regarding figures like Prince Andrew and the Sussexes. Krakue implied that the King understands the public's lack of appetite for controversial royals like Andrew.
Andrew's continuous involvement in dubious financial and personal scandals has not only affected him but also his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The ongoing fallout from his actions has limited their prospects of becoming more prominent figures within the Royal Family. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams explained that while the Princesses do occasional royal work, their association with Prince Andrew currently precludes them from taking on more significant roles.
This latest incident underscores the Duke's ongoing struggle with controversies, with an insider telling Star magazine, "There's a consensus that Andrew just can't say no to money. He's a huge embarrassment." As the royal family braces for potential further revelations, Prince Andrew's ability to steer clear of scandal remains uncertain.
