King Charles is bracing for yet another headache regarding his younger brother, Prince Andrew, after fresh claims emerged about his firm's connection to a controversial PPE millionaire. The BBC reported that Pitch@Palace Global - the Duke of York's business initiative - was administered for two years by Knox House Trustees (UK) - a firm linked to controversial millionaire Doug Barrowman.

Mr Barrowman and his wife, Baroness Michelle Mone, caused a media storm when she admitted they lied about their links to a company that won large Government PPE deals during the pandemic. The duke's firm passed its legal ownership to Knox House Trustees (UK) after Andrew's infamous Newsnight interview in 2019 regarding his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which ultimately led to him stepping down as a senior working royal.

The BBC said that Pitch@Palace Global "remained the prince's company, under his control" but, in line with longstanding royal practice, it was "owned under the names of other people or companies, acting on his behalf as so-called 'nominees'".

Companies House fillings showed that from February 2021, that "nominee" was Knox House Trustees (UK) which at the time was owned by Mr Barrowman until 2023.

A lawyer for Mr Barrowman said he "at no time... had any business or personal involvement with the duke".

Pitch@Palace was founded in 2014 to "provide a platform for UK entrepreneurs to make transformational connections that could accelerate their businesses".

The firm had two parts, a UK-based version "set up as a community interest company, which cannot pay profits to shareholders" and an international arm - Pitch@Palace Global Ltd - which "was set up as a for-profit UK company", according to the outlet.

Pitch@Palace Global was founded in 2017, in the name of Andrew's private secretary, Amanda Thirsk. The international arm emerged as a possible way for Andrew to fund his lifestyle, after quitting his royal duties.

In February 2021, its legal ownership was transferred to Knox House Trustees (UK) Limited - a company set up the year before and for which Mr Barrowman is said to have had "significant influence and control" over it.

The BBC reported that corporate filings in the Isle of Man show Knox House Trustees (UK) was "ultimately owned by Knox Limited, whose sole shareholder is Mr Barrowman".

In 2023, Knox House Trustees (UK) Ltd's ownership was transferred to Arthur Lancaster - an accountant linked to both the duke and Mr Barrowman.

Mr Lancaster also took the role of director and shareholder of PPE Medpro - a company Mr Barrowman and Baroness Mone had links with and which she admitted they had lied about. The BBC said Mr Lancaster declined to comment.

The couple both deny any wrongdoing, however, the National Crime Agency is now investigating suspected criminal offences at the firm.

Mr Barrowman's also sparked controversy after HMRC investigated one of his companies - AML Tax (UK) - in 2017, and found that it aggressively promoted, external" tax avoidance schemes. It was fined £150,000 in 2022.

Author Andrew Lownie, who is writing a biography of the prince, told the outlet: "Andrew has a long history of associating with dubious business figures and disguising his business activities behind nominee and offshore accounts. There really needs to be a full investigation into the duke's financial activities."

Mr Barrowman's lawyer said in a statement: "Mr Lancaster was a director of KHT (UK) Ltd which provided company administration services to a number of external companies, including Pitch@Palace, a company wholly owned by the duke. Mr Lancaster acted for the duke in a personal capacity at all times and has been an associate of the duke for many years."

Buckingham Palace and Mr Barrowman have been contacted for comment.