Prince Andrew’s desperate bid to sell his £18million ski chalet now looks “impossible” after it was frozen as an asset by the Swiss authorities, it has been claimed.
Sources in Verbier, where he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson own the seven-bedroom property, say the chalet has been placed “under sequestration” due to an alleged £1.6m debt.
According to Le Temps, a Swiss newspaper, Andrew and Fergie entered into a business arrangement with an unnamed couple in the resort and the reported £1.6m debt prompted the sequestration of the property, named Henora.
In February, it emerged that Andrew had found a buyer for the chalet and aimed to use the proceeds to help pay off his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre. He did not accept any liability when he made the settlement.
But the sequestration means the sale of the chalet, which has an indoor pool and sauna, looks in peril.
Geneva law professor Nicolas Jeandin told Le Temps: “A sale is in principle impossible, except with the agreement of the creditor.”
Andrew is understood to be disputing he owes the full £1.6m, but he does not deny an unpaid debt.
A source close to the Duke said: “Talks are underway to resolve the matter. It in no way prevents the sale of the chalet, which is proceeding.”
Removal vans from London firm Abels arrived this week, but sources said the buyer was getting restless.
One warned: “The whole deal could collapse at any moment.”Andrew agreed to pay a reported £12m to Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her while she was his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein’s sex slave. He vehemently denies the claims.
