Nicola Thorp: Monarchy only care about Prince Andrew's reputation

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Prince Andrew, 61, still has nine military honours after stepping down from royal duties in 2019. But the Duke of York is in the spotlight again as Virginia Giuffre is suing the Queen’s son for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager and has said it was “past the time for him to be held to account”. Royal biographer Angela Levin has claimed the Prince will not “boost” charities if he is patron to them.

Speaking to GB News, Ms Levin said: “He still has nine military honours and we’ll have to see what happens to that.

“Apparently they wouldn’t say a word about him and I can’t imagine any military organisation would actually want him on their books just as any charity wouldn’t want somebody.

“Especially not children’s charities whether he’s done anything or not.

“It just wouldn’t draw people to them and wouldn’t bring in any money and royals are expected to boost the charity and people do donate very generously if they have a royal patronage and none of that will happen.”

Virginia Giuffre claims she was trafficked by Andrew’s former friend and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the Duke when she was aged 17 and a minor under US law.

David Boies, who represents Ms Giuffre, said his client ultimately wanted “vindication” from her civil suit for damages.

Andrew has vehemently denied the allegations in the past, and a spokesman for the duke said there was “no comment” when she was asked to respond to Ms Giuffre’s legal action.

According to the Daily Mail, the duke was seen arriving at the royal Scottish retreat of Balmoral Castle on Tuesday evening and was thought to have been accompanied by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Nicola Thorp: Monarchy only care about Prince Andrew's reputation

Mr Boies told Channel 4 News: “This is now a matter for courts to decide and it would be very ill-advised for anyone to sort of thumb their nose at a federal court.”

He claimed Andrew’s lawyers have not co-operated: “They have just totally stonewalled. They have refused to provide any explanation, they refuse to engage in any discussions.

“They refuse to provide any facts, they’ve even refused to respond to any of the allegations that have been made in any reasonable way. They have basically simply ignored every letter, every phone call, every outreach that we’ve made.”

Mr Boies said about his client: “I think she expects to get vindication” from the legal process and went on to say, “Her hope is calling the rich and powerful abusers to account will have some effect on reducing the chance that other young girls will suffer what she suffered.”

DON’T MISS

Royal Family LIVE: Meghan and Harry blasted over Netflix deal bid [LIVE]
Prince William ‘didn’t really want to be king’ Princess Diana said [INSIGHT]
Prince Andrew ‘tried to get patronages back’ but Charles refused [ANALYSIS]

The Duke does not have to attend or give evidence in the civil proceedings in New York, but the legal action will be a further blow to his reputation and the standing of the monarchy, according to Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

He said about the Epstein scandal: “It’s damaging not only for Andrew but for the institution of the monarchy itself because all sorts of allegations have been thrown at the institution since all this came to light – and the perception is, most likely incorrectly, they are not taking it seriously.”

Andrew stepped back from public duties after the backlash from his 2019 Newsnight interview, dubbed a “car crash”, which had attempted to draw a line under his relationship with Epstein – but instead saw him heavily criticised for showing little empathy with the sex offender’s victims.

“I can’t think of any kind of rehabilitation that will bring him back into the royal fold as a working member of the family,” added Mr Little.

Source: Read Full Article