Lord Mountbatten's biographer accuses unnamed members of the royal family of 'feathering their own nests' while supposedly representing the taxpayer

Lord Mountbatten's biographer, Andrew Lownie, has accused unnamed members of the royal family of 'raising their own nests' while ostensibly representing the taxpayer as brand ambassadors and influencers.

Calling for the publication of royal wills, he adds: 'The lack of oversight of the royal family's financial position and the secrecy with which wealth is passed on are not the hallmark of a mature democracy or a dignified monarchy.'

Lownie, who is currently writing a biography of the Duke and Duchess of York, wonders: 'How much is Prince Andrew worth, for example? What trust funds have been set up for him since birth, and does some of this wealth come from public funds? We do not know.' Deep waters.

Lownie (pictured), who is currently writing a biography of the Duke and Duchess of York, asks: 'How much is Prince Andrew worth, for example?

Could be Dame Louise Windsor be a partial solution to the shortage of younger working royals?

The eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who is currently studying at university, turns 21 this year. She has inherited the royal love of horses and has experienced a non-royal life working in a garden centre.

She has developed in style and self-confidence by accompanying her parents Edward and Sophie on engagements. A promotion could cause problems for Prince Andrew, who has stood up for his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. But if not Louise, then who?

Princess Charlotte

Could a British princess enlist in the army? Princess Leonor, 18, heir to the Spanish throne, has been standing out in uniform since she began a three-year course at the Zaragoza Military Academy.

Belgian heir Princess Elisabeth, 22, followed in her father's footsteps and attended the military academy. Now that Prince George has been definitively ruled out, could Princess Charlotte take over the king's shilling, following in the footsteps of her father, grandfather and great-grandmother?

Has the mere mention of suspended Huw Edwards become the BBC equivalent of thespian terror when referring to Shakespeare's Scottish play?

Stand-up comedian Robin Morgan delivered a Macbeth moment on Radio 4's The News Quiz when he declared: 'Life has gotten worse in the last year because we miss Huw Edwards. And if life got worse, at least we'd have Uncle Huw to tell us about it.'

Paddy Power quotes odds of more than 100/1 that Huw – suspended six months ago after allegations he paid a 17-year-old boy for images of himself – would ever return.

Did Sir Paul McCartney propose to his late buddy, DJ Annie Nightingale? Annie, who died this month, once claimed Macca proposed to her while interviewing singer Mary Hopkin, one of his protégés. Paul, who paid a moving tribute to Annie, married Linda in 1969, a year after he reportedly knelt before Miss Nightingale.

In his last ex-Cathedra statement says Gary Lineker declares riding horses 'bizarre' and spits: 'People say, 'Oh the [horses] love it. They continue when there are no people around.' And I think, 'They love to run around!' I like to run around. But I don't want to hitch a ride Gaza all over the field.'