Ex-Prince Andrew once said royals aren’t allowed to play Monopoly because ‘it gets too vicious’

In February 2026, British police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — formerly known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York — on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his ties to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor is the first British royal to be arrested in nearly 400 years.

Following his arrest, a years-old anecdote about the royal family being unable to play Monopoly because “it gets too vicious” resurfaced online.

The quote is from Mountbatten-Windsor. He made the comment in 2008 at the Leeds Building Society’s newly-refurbished Albion Street headquarters, where he was presented with a version of the famous board game, ahead of the Christmas holidays. 

“We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It gets too vicious,” he said. 

He did not elaborate on what game they did play. This statement was reported in The Telegraph and it was not clear whether he was joking or not, but it is safe to assume that he was making a lighthearted comment. A clip of Mountbatten-Windsor making this comment can be found in this 2011 video:

It is not known if this rule is still in place, or indeed if it was ever actually a family rule. 

Sources