Lord Charles Tryon, godson of King Charles, has found himself indirectly embroiled in a massive tax evasion scandal involving Douglas Edelman, an American financier charged with evading taxes on over US$350 million in military contract profits. Edelman’s alleged schemes span nearly two decades and include elaborate use of offshore entities, luxurious assets, and international financial maneuvers. While prosecutors have not accused Tryon of any wrongdoing, his professional ties to Edelman have raised questions about his role in the financier’s network.

Lord Charles Tryon, a 48-year-old financier, hails from a family with deep connections to British royalty. His mother, Lady Dale “Kanga” Tryon, was a close confidante of King Charles, who once described her as “the only woman who ever understood me”. As an infant, Tryon appeared in a widely circulated photo with King Charles during his christening. His transition into business and finance, however, has recently brought scrutiny due to his prior associations with Edelman.

Edelman, who amassed wealth through over US$7 billion in US military contracts during the post-9/11 wars, faces 30 charges, including tax evasion and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that he used offshore companies to hide assets in his wife’s name, purchasing extravagant properties such as a US$43 million mansion in London, an Austrian ski chalet, and luxury yachts.

Key to these allegations are two companies: Satellite Support Services Limited and Aspen Wind Corporation, entities allegedly used by Edelman to funnel profits and evade taxes. Tryon’s name appears in connection with both. Documents from the Pandora Papers list him as a director of Satellite Support Services from 2009 to 2011, and he held power of attorney for Aspen Wind Corporation in 2009. Edelman is accused of using these companies to shift assets across borders, but Tryon insists he was unaware of any illicit activity.

In response to inquiries, Tryon acknowledged working with Edelman between 2003 and early 2009 but emphasized that their business relationship ended acrimoniously. He denied any knowledge or involvement in Edelman’s alleged tax evasion activities, which reportedly spanned from 2003 to 2020. Tryon expressed surprise at his listing as a director of Satellite Support Services after their split and claimed that he did not understand why he was granted power of attorney for Aspen Wind months after their relationship ended.

The investigation into Edelman’s activities, dubbed Operation Jetsetter, is an international effort involving the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Britain’s tax authority. Leaked documents show that businesses linked to Edelman and Tryon shared mailing addresses in London, raising questions about the extent of their professional overlap.

One such address, 20 Conduit Street, was tied to Edelman’s businesses until 2011 and later became the official address of Tryon’s company, Maris Capital Advisors, until 2014. Tryon maintained that his ventures were independent of Edelman’s operations and that any overlap was coincidental or administrative in nature.

Currently, Tryon serves as CEO of Mauritius-based Maris Limited, a venture capital fund with significant investments across Africa. The fund manages assets exceeding US$125 million, spanning industries such as mining, forestry, and machinery dealerships. Despite his current success, Tryon’s past associations with Edelman continue to cast a shadow over his career.

Edelman, arrested in Spain in July and extradited to the US in September, now faces what Senator Ron Wyden described as “one of the largest individual tax evasion schemes in American history”. His indictment highlights the global reach of tax evasion networks and underscores the need for international collaboration in tackling financial crimes.

The Edelman case serves as a stark reminder of the potential reputational risks for individuals tied, however tangentially, to large-scale financial malfeasance. While Lord Charles Tryon has not been accused of wrongdoing, his connections to Edelman have invited scrutiny, particularly given his royal lineage and public profile.

As the trial against Edelman progresses, questions remain about the extent of Lord Tryon’s involvement and whether his business dealings will face further investigation. For now, his proximity to one of the most significant tax evasion cases in recent history underscores the intricate entanglements of wealth, power, and accountability on the global stage.

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