Prince Andrew Funeral Plans Revealed Amid Jeffrey Epstein Scandal

Despite renewed scrutiny over his ties with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, former Prince Andrew reportedly remains part of the Cabinet Office’s “bridge” funeral planning process for senior royals. According to RadarOnline, the disgraced ex-prince’s eventual service could cost British taxpayers around $11 million if he receives a high-profile royal send-off with heavy security and policing.

Although it’s likely not to match the grandeur of a state event, the outlet reported that Andrew’s funeral plans could “potentially still involve St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore.” Royal insiders warned that these locations come with a staggering bill, regardless of whether the ceremony itself is privately funded. 

“If Andrew ultimately receives a large-scale royal funeral, the overall operation could probably cost around $11 million once substantial security, policing, crowd management and ceremonial requirements are considered,” one expert on royal ceremonies said. “That does not mean taxpayers would fund every element, but a major public security operation could leave them with a considerable bill.”

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A separate source pointed out that “Andrew’s status makes this enormously controversial,” adding, “People will inevitably ask why millions of dollars of public money should potentially be spent around the funeral of someone who has lost his royal titles and public role, and the bill would sting UK taxpayers. There will also be a huge amount of security costs involved.”

Now, even without an official state funeral, any significant ceremonial event for Andrew could be extremely expensive. RadarOnline reported that Princess Diana’s 1997 funeral is estimated to have cost approximately $10.8 million in today’s dollars, while Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s service in 2002 was put at around $11.3 million after inflation. As for Queen Elizabeth II, her funeral and the period of national mourning reportedly set the British government back about $218 million. 

As of now, there’s widespread opposition to British taxpayers covering the cost of Andrew’s funeral. Spencer Kuvin, a US lawyer who’s represented several of Epstein’s victims, insisted that public money should “not ever” be used for it.

Additionally, Norman Baker, a former UK minister and vocal critic of royal finances, argued that keeping Andrew eligible for a state funeral “must be an oversight.”