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Prince Andrew facilitated private Buckingham Palace tour for crypto executives tied to ex-wife's £1.4m deal
Prince Andrew arranged an exclusive tour of Buckingham Palace in June 2019 for two executives from a now-failed cryptocurrency mining firm that later agreed to pay his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, up to £1.4 million, a BBC investigation reveals. The visit occurred while Queen Elizabeth II was in residence, raising further questions about the use of royal connections for private financial gain.
The palace visit and royal connections
Jay Bloom and Michael Evers, co-founder and associate of Pegasus Group Holdings, were chauffeured through the palace gates in Prince Andrew's personal vehicle after being collected from a luxury Knightsbridge hotel. Evers claimed the pair briefly met the late Queen during the visit, though Bloom disputed this account. Both men had been invited by Andrew to his Pitch@Palace business event later that day, where they dined with the duke, Ferguson, and their daughter, Princess Beatrice.
Ferguson, then serving as a paid "brand ambassador" for Pegasus, promoted a crypto-mining scheme in Arizona that collapsed within a year, leaving investors with losses totaling millions. The project, which aimed to use solar generators to mine Bitcoin, acquired only 615 of 16,000 planned units and generated just $33,779 in cryptocurrency before its failure.
A failed venture and legal fallout
By April 2021, disgruntled investors filed lawsuits alleging misappropriation of funds. A U.S. arbitration tribunal later awarded them $4.1 million, though Bloom is appealing the decision. Court documents show Ferguson received over £200,000 for her role, with a leaked contract revealing a potential £1.2 million bonus and equity stake in the company. Her agreement included first-class travel, five-star accommodations, and professional styling for up to four "networking events."
The contract explicitly stated Ferguson did not claim expertise in solar energy or crypto-mining, absolving her of responsibility for the venture's commercial claims. Bloom, who had previously faced legal troubles over a failed Las Vegas "Mafia museum," pivoted Pegasus to crypto-mining after encountering solar generators at a 2019 motor speedway event.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Excerpt from Ferguson's Pegasus contract, outlining her limited liability for industry claims
Royal access and unanswered questions
Footage from the palace visit, reviewed by a former royal staffer, showed security personnel lowering barriers for Andrew's vehicle-a protocol typically reserved for royal family members. Evers described the tour as part of a broader pattern of access, including visits to the Royal Lodge in Windsor and dinners with Ferguson's family across multiple countries. Bloom later admitted touring Andrew's office but denied meeting the Queen, contradicting Evers' account and his own earlier social media posts hinting at unreleased photos.
The revelations compound scrutiny of Andrew and Ferguson's financial ties, particularly following Andrew's 2021 stripping of royal titles amid criticism over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Neither Andrew nor Ferguson responded to the BBC's requests for comment on their Pegasus involvement or Ferguson's payments.
Investor losses and ongoing disputes
Pegasus' Arizona project, launched with a ceremonial "groundbreaking" attended by Ferguson and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, never materialized. Investors' 2023 arbitration victory marked the latest in a series of legal battles, with Bloom vowing to challenge the ruling. Evers, who expressed regret over his involvement, confirmed he and other investors remain unpaid years later.
Separately, court records link Andrew to £60,500 in payments from Alphabet Capital, a British firm owned by Adrian Gleave, which also funded Ferguson's Pegasus work. The purpose of these payments remains unexplained.
Key figures in the controversy
- Jay Bloom: Pegasus co-founder with a history of legal disputes, including a failed Las Vegas "mob museum." Denies wrongdoing in the crypto scheme's collapse.
- Michael Evers: Former actor and Pegasus investor who claimed to have met the Queen during the palace tour. Now distances himself from the venture.
- Sarah Ferguson: Received over £200,000 for promoting Pegasus, with a contract stipulating no liability for the project's failures.
- Prince Andrew: Facilitated royal access for Pegasus executives; faces ongoing questions about his financial dealings.
