As questions grow over who funded the York sisters’ lavish lifestyles, how a Libyan gun smuggler was invited to Eugenie’s wedding, while bride Beatrice received ‘£750,000 as a gift’ from Turkish millionairess
Royal Weddings and Financial Speculation
A recent publication has unveiled intriguing details about the financial arrangements surrounding Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice’s extravagant weddings, reigniting debates about the Duke of York’s personal finances. The book Entitled by historian Andrew Lownie highlights connections between the royal family and several high-profile figures, raising eyebrows about the sources of their daughters’ opulent spending habits.
Unveiling the Guest List
Among the attendees at Eugenie’s 2018 nuptials was Tarek Kaituni, a former Libyan weapons trafficker known for gifting her a £18,000 diamond necklace on her 21st birthday. Meanwhile, Turkish billionaire Nebahat Isbilen was reportedly linked to a £750,000 transfer to the Duke’s private account, allegedly earmarked for Beatrice’s ceremony. These lavish contributions have fueled further scrutiny.
“Sarah had been brought on to help with foreign expansion, but it appeared this led to Dr. Hon ‘bankrolling the royals,’ with him charging some £3million in expenses which included £8,000 for tea with the Duchess of York – and, as a Judge pointed out, ‘That is not the purpose for which these small Chinese investors paid their money in to the company.’”
Dr. Johnny Hon, a Hong Kong-based tycoon, was familiar with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who had joined his venture capital firm Gate Ventures as a non-executive director the year before. However, tensions arose when Chinese investors contested the company’s practices, alleging misleading information about loans to Ginger & Moss, a firm founded by the Duchess. Of the £24million raised from shareholders, £19million was claimed to have been “lost.”
Later reports revealed unusual financial dealings at Gate, including a loan to Manuel Fernandez’s company, vVoosh, and transactions with offshore entities. Hon defended these expenses, stating, “All activities charged to the company were ‘for the benefit of Gate and were legitimate business expenses.’” He also insisted, “No part of the spending was for my personal benefit or personal enjoyment. It was hard, often exhausting, but necessary work.”
Isbilen’s legal battle against Turk, who was accused of misusing £40million, added another layer to the narrative. A £750,000 payment to the Duke’s account in 2019 was cited as one of her claims, with Turk asserting it was for helping her secure a Turkish passport. Andrew’s office, however, described the transaction as a gift for the wedding, leaving its ultimate use ambiguous.
The timing of the payment, just nine days after Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace for his digital bank concept, prompted critics to call the event “appalling.” This sequence of events has deepened suspicions about the financial ties between the Duke and these influential figures, casting a spotlight on the mysterious funding of the royal sisters’ lives.
