Prince Andrew to Relinquish Duke of York Title and Honors Following Renewed Epstein Scrutiny
LONDON – Prince Andrew is expected to give up his title as Duke of York and associated honors, according to reports, as further details emerge linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The developments come amid renewed public and legal pressure stemming from recently surfaced communications.
A photograph released with court documents depicts Virginia Giuffre (then Roberts) with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Andrew’s London home. Recent scrutiny centers on a newly revealed email from 2011 in wich Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, described Epstein as a “supreme freind” weeks after publicly distancing herself from him. A spokesperson for the duchess stated she was “taken in” by Epstein’s lies and cut off contact once she became aware of the extent of the allegations against him, adding that Epstein then threatened to sue her for defamation. The spokesperson also said Ferguson stands by her public condemnation of Epstein and that the email was sent in an attempt to assuage Epstein and his threats.
The email follows the reporting of another email,released earlier,which read,”We are in this together,” and “Play some more soon.” The palace has not responded to requests for comment on either email.
Prince Andrew has previously stated he ended all contact with Epstein in 2010, and in a 2019 BBC “Newsnight” interview, claimed he visited Epstein’s New York home that year to end thier friendship.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The renewed focus on Epstein’s connections to the British royal family comes weeks after Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was fired over his own links to Epstein, though he denies any wrongdoing.
giuffre’s family has called on King Charles III to remove Andrew’s title as prince, a move that would require the issuance of a Letters Patent.Removing Andrew’s dukedom would necessitate an act of parliament.
“This moment serves as victory for Virginia,who consistently maintained,’He knows what happened,I know what happened,and there’s only one of us telling the truth,and I know that’s me,'” her family said in a statement. “This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
