Friday 10 June 2022 05:40 PM Prince Andrew faces financial questions over £1.6million debt as he tries to ... trends now
Prince Andrew faced more questions over his finances today after he was accused of owing £1.6 million to a Swiss couple - as he tries to complete the sale of his £18m Verbier ski chalet.
According to reports in the Swiss media, the debt to the mystery couple is preventing the Duke of York from completing the sale of his much-loved Chalet Helora.
It has been claimed that the disgraced royal was intending to use money from the sale of the property to help finance his £10million sex assault lawsuit settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre.
In February of this year it was reported that Andrew had found a buyer for the chalet, after settling a separate £6.6million debt to French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre, 74, who he purchased the property from in 2014.
But the process appears to have stalled because the chalet is 'under sequestration' as a result of the alleged debt. The chalet was frozen as an asset by Swiss authorities on December 15, 2020 according to Le Temps newspaper.
Sources close to Prince Andrew told MailOnline that the dispute will not prevent the property's sale, and that while the Duke 'did not deny owing the money' to the couple he was 'questioning the amount'
A moving van was spotted outside the £18 million chalet yesterday (June 9), despite the sale still being under contention
Prince Andrew is believed to owe £1.6 million, or around two million Swiss francs, to an unnamed Swiss couple (Pictured: Prince Andrew spotted for the first time since testing positive for coronavirus)
The source said: 'This has nothing to do with the original purchase of the chalet, it's a completely separate business transaction between the couple and the Duke.
'It shouldn't affect the sale of the property despite what the Swiss media says and is expected to go through as planned.
With removal vans spotted outside of Prince Andrew's Swiss chalet this week, how do the royal family move their belongings from one property to another?
The royal family always use Abels as their removal company of choice
Neighbours were alerted to belongings leaving the chalet as a large blue removals van from London-based Abels had arrived in the village earlier this week and boxes had been taken from inside into the vehicle.
Abels was given a Royal Warrant by Her Majesty the Queen in 1981 and has been carrying out removal services for the Royal Household ever since and has been rewarded for its continued service.
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'Talks are underway to resolve the matter, which are expected to be concluded satisfactorily for all parties.'
Prince Andrew bought the Swiss chalet, which includes an indoor pool, sauna, boot room and terrace with spectacular views, with his then-wife Sarah Ferguson in 2014.
Ms de Rouvre who sold them the property now says she 'pities' the couple who are the subject of the new debt and branded him 'an absolute fool'.
The disgraced royal owed the former chalet owner more than £6 million up until last year, when a lengthy legal battle culminated in the prince paying her £6.6 million.
Ms de Rouvre said she knows the stress she
