King Charles blocked 'bizarre' £32,000 request from Andrew Mountbatten Windsor

King Charles once turned down a "bizarre" request from his brother Andrew to fork out £32,000 for spiritual Indian gurus to treat him while staying at his residence, a royal biographer has revealed.

According to author Robert Jobson, the King was "horrified" by the proposal and immediately vetoed it, despite the late Queen Elizabeth II previously "passing the request through."

In his new book The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, Mr Jobson said the King's rejection of his brother's request marked a fresh, more business-focused approach to how royal finances are managed.

He wrote: "The palace began to shift, not loudly, but unmistakably. His mark was there, quiet but undeniable. 'This isn't about financial cuts,' one senior insider explained. 'It's about getting value for money and efficiency. Sometimes less truly is more.'"

The decision is reportedly part of a broader campaign by the monarch to restructure the Royal Household and impose financial restraint among family members.

"The King isn't running a housing association for distant relatives," another source said bluntly, highlighting his determination to reduce the number of royals reliant on his support.

Charles's stance on Andrew reflects a sustained effort to distance the monarchy from the scandals that have long surrounded the former Duke of York, particularly his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday, November 6, the monarch formally stripped his scandal-hit brother of his HRH status and princely title amid allegations that he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew has vehemently denied these claims.

The King's insistence on responsibility and prudence extends well beyond his sibling.

The removal of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Frogmore Cottage-a Crown Estate residence granted to them by the late Queen-was part of this tighter approach to royal assets.

"Their loss of a British base, announced shortly after the publication of Prince Harry's memoir Spare, is described as 'the tip of the iceberg.' The message is clear: no freeloaders in the modern monarchy."

Charles has reportedly also instructed staff to curb spending from both the Duchy of Lancaster and the Sovereign Grant, focusing instead on a "smarter use of resources."

According to the writer, Charles's focus is on directing funds toward areas that strengthen the institution, including competitive salaries and pensions to attract and retain elite personnel.

A senior source told the author: "There have been staff cutbacks. That started straight away. The buzz phrase in the household now is 'value for money.'"

King Charles III has delivered on his pledge to streamline the monarchy, saving the public more than £20 million. In the 2023-24 financial year, total net expenditure funded by the Sovereign Grant fell by 17 percent to £89.1 million, down from a record high the previous year when Royal Family spending exceeded £107 million.

For the 2024-25 financial year, the official net expenditure of the Royal Family was £85.2 million-a further decrease of 4 percent, or £3.9 million, compared with the previous year.