Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been served with a witness summons compelling him to give evidence in a fraud trial in the High Court on or around 15 December. The former duke is not accused of wrongdoing, but the appearance will be his first public questioning since his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview.
The case involves allegations by Nebahat Isbilen, an elderly Turkish woman, that her former financial adviser Selman Turk misled her and used her wealth for his own advantage. Turk has strongly denied dishonesty. Mountbatten-Windsor is set to be a significant witness, and it is said that he was in receipt of some of the disputed payments.
The witness summons is believed to be the first issued to a royal since the 19th century. Justice Adam Johnson granted permission for him to be called as a witness last month, saying that, given the seriousness of the allegations, Turk should have access to what the judge called “the evidence he considers relevant and material.”
The case involves two payments from Isbilen’s accounts. A payment of £750,000 was transferred to Mountbatten-Windsor the day after he recorded his Newsnight interview in 2019. Isbilen claims Turk misled her into making the payment, believing it was for help with a passport. Turk says it was a gift made on her own initiative to create goodwill. By 2021, the money had been paid back.
A second payment of around £768,000 was made in January 2020. Turk claims this was a loan to Mountbatten-Windsor for the purchase of a chalet in Switzerland, a suggestion contested by Isbilen and challenged in earlier hearings.
Turk met Mountbatten-Windsor in autumn 2019 through the Pitch@Palace project, a Dragon’s Den-style pitching event run by the former duke. The meetings led to social gatherings bringing together Turk, his family, Isbilen, and the then Duke and Duchess of York.
The trial at the High Court is expected to begin this month. Mountbatten-Windsor is due to appear as a witness around 15 December, either in person or by video link. Turk has said through his representatives that he denies the claims of dishonesty and looks forward to being vindicated in court.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Forces public financial scrutiny of a royal whose financial dealings have drawn persistent questions.
- Marks a rare legal milestone: the first witness summons for a member of the royal family in over a century.
- Could provide Mountbatten-Windsor's first public testimony on his personal finances since the 2019 Newsnight interview.
Background
Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down from royal duties in 2019 following his Newsnight interview about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was later stripped of his military affiliations and patronages. The current case stems from business dealings and relationships formed as he was leaving public life.
Key Perspectives
Nebahat Isbilen: Alleges Selman Turk misled her into paying £750,000 to Mountbatten-Windsor, believing it was for help with a passport, and that a further £768,000 payment was not a loan.
Selman Turk: Denies dishonesty, stating the £750,000 was a gift initiated by Isbilen and the £768,000 was a loan to Mountbatten-Windsor for a property purchase.
Justice Adam Johnson: Ruled that Mountbatten-Windsor must be called as a witness, as Turk should have access to relevant and material evidence.
What to Watch
- Whether Mountbatten-Windsor testifies in person or via video link in mid-December.
- The explanations he offers for the £750,000 and £768,000 payments from Isbilen's accounts.
- The trial's outcome for Turk, whose defence depends on the court's view of the transactions involving Mountbatten-Windsor.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor was summoned to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial.BBC News: “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been served with a summons compelling him to give evidence in a fraud trial in the High Court”
- SupportedHe is due to give evidence on or around 15 December.BBC News: “with Mountbatten-Windsor to appear as a witness around the 15 December”
- SupportedHe is not accused of wrongdoing, and this will be his first public questioning since his 2019 Newsnight interview.BBC News: “Mountbatten-Windsor is not accused of wrongdoing”
- SupportedThe case involves a wealthy Turkish woman’s allegations against her former financial adviser.BBC News: “a wealthy woman alleges she was cheated by her former financial adviser”
- SupportedThe case includes a disputed £750,000 transfer to Mountbatten-Windsor.BBC News: “it is said that he was in receipt of some of the disputed payments, including a transfer to him of £750,000.”
- SupportedThe summons is believed to be the first issued to a royal since the 19th century.BBC News: “It is also believed that Mountbatten-Windsor is the first royal since the 19th Century to be sent such a witness summons.”
- SupportedJustice Adam Johnson said Turk should have access to “the evidence he considers relevant and material.”BBC News: “Justice Adam Johnson has said that, given the seriousness of the allegations, Turk should have access to "the evidence he considers relevant and material".”
- SupportedIsbilen claimed Turk misled her into paying £750,000, believing it was for help with a passport.BBC News: “Isbilen claimed she was misled by Turk into paying £750,000 to Mountbatten-Windsor, believing it was for help with a passport.”
- SupportedTurk said the £750,000 was a gift made on Isbilen’s own initiative to create goodwill.BBC News: “Turk has denied the allegation and says this payment was a gift made on Isbilen's own initiative to create goodwill with the then duke”
- SupportedThe £750,000 had been paid back by 2021.BBC News: “In 2021, Isbilen's lawyers contacted the then Prince Andrew and the money had been paid back”
- SupportedTurk claimed a separate payment of around £768,000 in January 2020 was a loan for Mountbatten-Windsor to buy a chalet in Switzerland, a suggestion contested by Isbilen and challenged in earlier hearings.BBC News: “around £768,000 in January 2020. Turk has claimed it was a loan to Mountbatten-Windsor for the purchase of a chalet in Switzerland - a suggestion which is contested by Isbilen and had been challenged in previous court hearings.”
- SupportedThe High Court trial is expected to begin later this month.BBC News: “The trial at the High Court is expected to begin later this month.”