Why now? One reason is the publication of the memoir by Virginia Giuffre this Tuesday. Giuffre was one of the principal witnesses against child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and she completed her account before she took her own life in Western Australia in April.
Giuffre says she was 17 when she met Andrew in London in 2001. “He was friendly enough, but still entitled – as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright,” she writes.
Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre (centre) in 2001 and Epstein’s then personal assistant Ghislaine Maxwell.Credit:
Andrew denies meeting Giuffre and rejects claims he did anything wrong in his long association with Epstein.
The timing seems deliberately designed to highlight the link between the King’s action and the book’s publication. The idea of stripping Andrew of his titles was in the air months ago. Buckingham Palace could see the book coming, but it waited until now to cut Andrew adrift.
The media management is curious. The statement from Andrew was sent at 7pm on a Friday night in London, the usual ploy to bury a story. With this story, however, the statement has simply increased the attention on Giuffre and her memoir.
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There are many things to be said about the fall of Prince Andrew, which has been so slow because it began from such a great height. Every image of Andrew marks the fall, but the story began with a dashing schoolboy who became a helicopter pilot and war hero when the British reclaimed the Falklands from Argentina.
Then there was “randy Andy” being photographed with risqué actress Koo Stark, and the trade envoy seen with alleged Chinese spies. A recent book by Andrew Lownie – Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York – explores the prince’s financial links with the Middle East as well as a string of affairs.
The image he is likely to be remembered for is the one where he has his arm around Giuffre’s waist. She says Epstein took the photo. This image brought Andrew undone when it was published, but he insisted he cut all ties with Epstein at the end of 2010 after they were seen together in New York. This was false.
An email published last Sunday showed Andrew in contact with Epstein in early 2011. “It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it,” he wrote to his friend. “Otherwise keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
The King acted on the revelation without giving a hint of the turbulence in the family. On Thursday morning he was joking with Indigenous elders visiting London from Uluru. On Friday night he was protecting the monarchy without any hint of sentimentality.
This royal scandal has no parallel in living memory.
Prince Harry makes headlines for his marriage to Meghan, his departure for California and his thoughts on the royal family, but there is no disgrace in his behaviour. His recent visit to England and Ukraine showed him supporting worthy causes even though he is disliked by some for giving up his royal duties.
The only parallel is the shadow cast over Edward VIII after his abdication in December 1936 and marriage to Wallis Simpson. The following October, as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the couple visited Nazi Germany and took tea with Adolf Hitler at his Bavarian retreat. This Nazi intrigue left him shunned for life, but he kept his title.
The case against Andrew is devastating because it comes from a woman who fought for years to be heard about her sexual abuse. He denies these claims absolutely. But this has not saved him in the eyes of the public.
Nor in the eyes of his own family.
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