Prince Andrew: Playboy prince to pariah

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As he battles intercourse assault claims, Britain’s Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, has turn out to be a digital recluse, holed up on royal estates with no public function.

The as soon as well-liked royal has seen his repute shredded by intercourse allegations relating to his friendship with the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

An post-mortem concluded the multimillionaire killed himself in jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking costs.

Andrew – as soon as dubbed the Queen’s favorite son and ninth in line to the throne – dangers a US jury analyzing a civil declare from Virginia Giuffre, an American who alleges Epstein lent her out to his mates and compelled her to have intercourse with the prince as a 17-year-old minor.

The prince has denied any reminiscence of assembly Giuffre and prompt {a photograph} apparently exhibiting him together with his arm round her naked midriff was doctored. He refused requests to meet US investigators.

The 61-year-old royal has remained ensconced together with his 95-year-old mom since his makes an attempt at public exoneration by way of a BBC interview in 2019 massively backfired.

The Queen swiftly eliminated him from official duties whereas not pushing him out of the household circle and reportedly overlaying his authorized prices.

He is sometimes photographed driving or using a horse round royal estates. He didn’t seem in official images of his daughter Beatrice’s 2020 marriage ceremony, despite the fact that he walked her down the aisle.

‘Friend of intercourse trafficker’

Ghislaine Maxwell’s US conviction final week for procuring minors for Epstein to abuse additional broken Andrew. Even although the costs didn’t relate to the prince or Giuffre, his accuser was often talked about.

“He’s now perceived as a one-time shut pal with not solely a convicted paedophile, but additionally a convicted intercourse trafficker,” wrote Majesty journal editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward in The Sun tabloid.

The former naval helicopter pilot is dealing with calls to relinquish his honorary navy roles, whereas studies have prompt he may lose his Duke of York title.

Giuffre is suing the prince for unspecified damages in a civil swimsuit, whereas he has not been criminally charged and British police have declined to examine the claims.

PR catastrophe

But any makes an attempt to painting him as unwittingly caught up within the scandal are unlikely to wash with a US jury or with a sceptical British public.

After his 2019 BBC interview extensively seen as a PR catastrophe, Andrew was criticised for conceitedness and an absence of compassion for Epstein’s victims.

Businesses and charities rapidly distanced themselves from his initiatives and he stepped again from frontline royal duties.

He has additionally confronted fixed ridicule after countering a declare that he had been “profusely sweating” through the alleged encounter with Giuffre, saying he couldn’t sweat due to a medical situation.

Fallen hero

Born February 19, 1960, at Buckingham Palace, Andrew Albert Christian Edward Windsor was the third youngster and second son of the queen and her husband Prince Philip.

His elder brother Charles, Prince of Wales, is inheritor to the throne.

As a younger man, Andrew was seen as one of many world’s most eligible bachelors and even dubbed “Randy Andy” by the tabloid press earlier than settling down with Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

The couple – who took the title the Duke and Duchess of York after their marriage – had two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie.

Maxwell and Epstein have been reportedly visitors at Beatrice’s 18th party held at Windsor Castle in 2006.

Andrew and flame-haired “Fergie” divorced in 1996 however stay on good phrases and she or he has publicly defended him in opposition to Giuffre’s claims.

Following their break up, Andrew was snapped sunbathing with topless ladies in Thailand and at a so-called “hookers and pimps” occasion with Maxwell.

He flew helicopters through the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina and returned dwelling to a hero’s welcome.

He left the navy in 2001 and have become a particular authorities commerce envoy, incomes a brand new nickname — “Airmiles Andy” — as he jetted around the globe at taxpayers’ expense.

Questions have been requested about his judgement after hyperlinks to the households of varied dictators, and he confronted repeated claims of being brash, boastful and impolite.

But the Epstein scandal, which resurfaced in 2011, has dealt essentially the most damaging blow to his repute. – AFP



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