claim:
“We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home,” Prince Andrew said in 2008. “It’s so vicious.”
grade:
Rating: Correctly Attributed
In February 2026, British police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York) on suspicion of inappropriate behavior in public office with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor is the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in nearly 400 years.
After his arrest, a anecdotes over the years News that the royal family can’t play Monopoly because “it got too evil” has resurfaced online.
This quote comes from Mountbatten-Windsor. He made the remarks in 2008 at the Leeds Building Society’s newly refurbished Albion Street headquarters, where he received a copy of the famous board game just before the Christmas holidays.
“We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It’s so vicious,” he said.
He did not elaborate on what games they played. The statement was reported by The Daily Telegraph and it was unclear whether he was joking, but it was clear he was making a light-hearted comment. A clip of Mountbatten-Windsor making this comment can be found in this 2011 video:
It’s unclear if this rule is still in effect or if it was actually ever a house rule.
Source:
“Former Prince Andrew was arrested and held in jail for hours over alleged inappropriate relationship with Epstein.” Associated Press News, February 19, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/britain-epstein-andrew-former-prince-arrested-fb0b9e738bf7ede10651914ee3f3583d. Accessed: February 20, 2026.
“Meghan and Harry interview: Racism accusations, Duke ‘let down’ dad, Duchess ‘let down’ Kate.” BBC News, 8 March 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56316659. Accessed: December 7, 2022.
“Prince Andrew settles US civil sex assault case with Virginia Giuffre.” BBC News, 15 February 2022. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60393843. Accessed: December 7, 2022.
“Queen Elizabeth II imposes strict house rules on her four children amid fears of ‘vicious’ competition.” Hello! , February 10, 2026, https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/883101/royal-family-monopoly-ban/. Accessed: February 20, 2026.
The royal family “is not allowed to play monopoly.” The Telegraph, December 17, 2008. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/3816544/Royal-Family-not-allowed-to-play-Monopoly.html. Accessed: December 7, 2022.