Prince Andrew sued over £6.7million ‘unpaid bill’ on luxury Swiss ski chalet he bought with ex-wife Fergie
PRINCE Andrew and Fergie are being sued over an alleged £6.7m unpaid bill on their Swiss ski chalet, it was claimed last night.
The couple had bought shares in the property in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier in 2014 for about £13 million, according to a report in French newspaper Le Temps.
It is alleged they did not meet a December 31 deadline by which another chunk of that sum was supposed to be paid.
The wooden chalet has seven bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna, Le Temps reported.
It is understood the Duke and Duchess of York do not own the property outright - but bought a share of it.
In the deeds of sale, apparently seen by the paper, around £5 million, or six million Swiss francs, were due to be paid at the end of last year - which is now £6.7 million, or eight million Swiss francs, with interest.
CHALET 'DISPUTE'
Four months on it has been reported the law firm Etude du Ritz has been instructed by the vendor to launch legal proceedings at the local prosecution office, Le Temps reported.
There was no immediate comment from Etude de Ritz when contacted by the newspaper.
Le Temps quoted a spokeswoman for the couple as saying: “There is a dispute between the two parties in this matter,” adding that the contractual details were “subject to a confidentiality agreement.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman told The Sun they would not be commenting on the reports.
Andrew and Fergie divorced in 1996 but often jet to the Swiss Alps with daughters Eugenie, 30, and Beatrice, 31 for a break after Christmas.
The seven-bedroom Chalet Helora has six full-time staff and was rented out for more than £22,000 a week.
It boasts an indoor swimming pool and sauna, a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and is thought to hold fur throws, antiques and artworks.
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and singer James Blunt also have properties nearby at the luxury Verbier resort.
In December, it was reported Andrew wouldn't celebrate New Year with his family at the luxury Swiss ski lodge.
The under-fire Duke Of York was said to be be "lying low" while ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie headed to the exclusive village of Verbier,
The current reported legal proceedings add to Prince Andrew’s woes.
In November he stepped back from all royal duties following a public outcry over his friendship with dead US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
His relationship with the billionaire came under further scrutiny following allegations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre that she was trafficked to the prince and had sex with him three times.
Prince Andrew has always denied her claims.