Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is facing allegations of using a fake name to register a company. The complaint, submitted by Graham Smith, the CEO of the anti-monarchy group Republic, claims that the Duke used the pseudonym “Andrew Inverness” when he co-founded Naples Gold Limited with sports retail mogul Johan Eliasch back in 2002. Smith has formally reported the matter to Scotland Yard, accusing Prince Andrew of providing false information in company registration documents filed with Companies House.
The name “Andrew Inverness” is believed to be linked to one of Prince Andrew’s lesser-known titles, the Earl of Inverness, a title bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986. Smith argues that while the alleged filing of false information might seem like a minor issue, it could signal broader concerns about fraud in business practices. He also emphasized that the royal family often seems to act without consequences, urging that Andrew be held accountable to higher standards.
The Metropolitan Police are currently reviewing the complaint to determine if further investigation is needed, but no formal charges have been filed yet. Smith has argued that even seemingly minor incidents like this should be taken seriously to maintain integrity in business and legal systems.
In addition to this controversy, Prince Andrew’s investment firm, Urramoor Limited, has applied for dissolution. The company, which Andrew had significant control over, has struggled financially and failed to turn a profit in its nine years of operation. It was also revealed that Urramoor received £210,000 in 2023 from an anonymous source just as it was facing financial difficulties.