Prince Andrew’s actions have put King Charles in a difficult position and are casting a negative light on the monarchy, as per a royal expert. This follows the emergence of excerpts from a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of sex trafficking, where she accuses the Duke of York of behaving arrogantly and claiming entitlement to intimate relations with her. Giuffre, who tragically passed away at 41, is set to posthumously release her book next week, detailing multiple instances of being trafficked for sexual encounters with Andrew.
In the book, Giuffre recounts Andrew correctly guessing her age as 17 when they first met, mentioning his daughters were close in age to her. These revelations come shortly after Andrew faced backlash for an email to Jeffrey Epstein, stating they were “in this together” despite claims of cutting ties with the convicted sex offender. Calls have been made to strip Andrew of his royal title, with reports indicating King Charles intends to distance the royal family from the Yorks due to Andrew’s association with Epstein and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s continued communication with Epstein post-denouncement.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggests that the King may soon be compelled to take action in response to the mounting public pressure following the recent disclosures from Giuffre’s book. While removing Andrew from Royal Lodge may be challenging, stripping him of the Order of the Garter is a possibility. Bond highlights the dilemma faced by King Charles, emphasizing that Andrew’s ties to Epstein, who preyed on young girls, are tarnishing the reputation of the monarchy.
During a Newsnight interview in 2019, Andrew vehemently denied any wrongdoing with Giuffre, citing a lack of recollection of their alleged encounters. He also claimed a medical condition from 2001, related to an adrenaline overdose during the Falklands War, prevented him from sweating, refuting the allegations made against him. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter, and requests for statements from the duke’s representatives are pending.