Billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, a close friend of Vladimir Putin, has reportedly contributed a significant amount of money towards the £2.2 million pool complex at Lambrook School in Berkshire, where Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attend.
Rotenberg, who previously monopolised 30% of the Russian vodka market, donated to the independent school around a decade before the royal children joined.
Rotenberg and his ex-wife, Natalia, previously sent their children to Lambrook and are believed to have donated tens of thousands of pounds to the school.
The case has arisen at a time when 12,000 migrants are set to fast-track through the asylum system after completing a questionnaire to clear the massive backlog.
While the vast majority of applicants will be rubber-stamped without an interview, critics warn that criminals such as Rotenberg, who was hit with a package of personal financial sanctions by the UK in 2020 for financially benefiting from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine, could slip through and gain refugee status if they lie on the form.
However, there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Lambrook in accepting the donation. The school has always, and will always, fully comply with all appropriate legislation and undertake strict due diligence for any charitable donation.
Moreover, a spokesperson added that Lambrook does not comment on individual donations or donors. The swimming pool project began in 2011, and any donations towards this project were received at this time.
Lambrook School provides first-class teaching and superb facilities, which include a 25-metre swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, an astroturf, hard courts, a squash court, cricket and other sports pitches, a Diamond Jubilee performing arts studio, dance studio, and sports hall. It also has a pastoral care system, which is described as excellent.
The prospectus quoted one parent as saying, ‘It’s the most magical place for our children to spend time, and they can often be seen rosy-cheeked and perfecting handstands, throwing balls, or racing to the tree stumps.’
The princes and princess have access to first-class facilities at Lambrook, including a swimming pool, sports pitches, and a new £6 million academic and ICT building.
Lambrook offers both weekly and flexi boarding for the older two – where they can opt for a night’s stay as and when they choose, but George and Charlotte will be day pupils for now. There is school on Saturday mornings followed by an afternoon of sports fixtures for pupils in Year 5 and above, which includes George.
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