A few weeks ago, we learned that Prince Andrew has been secretly meeting the Queen under cover of darkness. We also learned that Andrew delusionally believes that he could make some kind of comeback. I believed the two stories were related – the Queen never wanted to fire her favorite son, and Liz of House Petty has made it clear that she’s still “protecting” Andrew in all kinds of ways, financially, legally, bureaucratically. Maybe the Men in Grey want Andrew shoved in a closet, but Liz wouldn’t allow it. So here we are. Now it seems that Andrew will cancel his latest attempt at a comeback:
Prince Andrew has been pictured today leaving Windsor Castle, the day after sources told the Daily Mail that he would never return to official duties and faces a future in the royal wilderness. The Queen’s second son stepped back from official engagements a year ago in the wake of his disastrous BBC interview regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. But in recent weeks the eighth in line to the throne has waged a quiet PR salvo, suggesting he was preparing to return to the public eye and ‘serve his country again’.
Multiple sources said this week that this is highly unlikely, however, even if the Duke of York does finally speak to US officials over his links to convicted paedophile Epstein.
The Duke of York was seen out for a morning drive through Windsor Great Park on Saturday in his Range Rover, accompanied by a security detail in the car.
There is still no word from him about how and when Andrew might talk to US officials, despite US prosecutors making clear it is a priority for them.
‘This is as much about judgment shown over the issue, as the allegations themselves,’ one well-placed source cautioned. ‘Even if the duke were to resolve matters satisfactorily over [Epstein], there is still an issue about [his] lack of understanding over the seriousness of the situation and not accepting that the relationship was wrong.’ They added: ‘I am not sure there will ever be an opportunity for him to return.’
With these kinds of stories, I always wonder who is leaking what, and who is the intended audience. I kind of feel like this is one place where Liz and her courtiers are rather openly engaging in a public dispute. Liz keeps trying to make Andrew’s comeback happen, and her courtiers keep going to the press to say no, it’s not going to happen.
Anyway, the Mail had another story about one of the attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. Lisa Bloom said: “I do have hope that the Biden-Harris administration will be more aggressive in standing with victims of sexual assault. It is essential that Prince Andrew cooperate with authorities, as he said he would, so that they can fully investigate him and all others accused of enabling prolific predator Jeffrey Epstein.” For what it’s worth, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested during the Trump administration, but yeah. So did Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and mysterious in-custody death. Reportedly, AG Bill Barr has already seen Maxwell in her detention center (he likely told her to keep her mouth shut or else). All of this talk of the Biden-Harris administration and how it will pan out for Maxwell and Epstein’s victims has made me wonder if Trump would dare to give a pardon to Maxwell. Or Prince Andrew.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
I definitely think this is an open fight between the queen and her courtiers/Charles. The Queen wants Andrew back. Charles doesn’t for his own reasons (including but not limited to the PR around Epstein/Maxwell) and the courtiers finally have some sense of how bad the optics would be here – if Andrew were back. So we keep getting these back and forth stories.
also, is Andrew still getting sovereign grant money?
“ also, is Andrew still getting sovereign grant money?”
I want to say no but that’s the thing. We don’t know. We haven’t been told if Andrew is still receiving sovereign grant money or Duchy of Lancaster money. He still uses his HRH and still has all his honourary military appointments. None of this has been taken away probably because his mother and Andrew himself still foolishly believe he can come back.
If the courtiers and Charles are serious about Andrew never coming back, they need to pressure Lizzie to start taking his positions away. Or if she won’t listen, Charles need to leak that he’ll do it when he’s King.
He is still getting protection officers, I remember when that came out maybe in February? They were trying to take that away from him and the Queen said no, I think? But I don’t remember the SG money. and like you said, we don’t know about the duchy of Lancaster money either, which I’m SURE he is getting regardless.
ETA I found this which says that he was stripped of his public funding
https://www.celebitchy.com/654221/prince_andrew_is_probably_still_getting_money_from_the_queens_lancaster_funds/
That’s the thing- the ‘free and fair’ royal press dont seem to scrutinise this so the public doesn’t know how Andrew is being funded. I’ve read that the Queen ensured he kept his public funded security.
I can see the Queen quietly bringing Andrew back to public duties next year- maybe after Ghislaine’s trial unless there’s even more incriminating info about him
You can’t be pardoned for a crimes you have not yet pleaded guilty to (or been found guilty of).
It is imperative Biden stand up and have these criminals prosecuted, including the Trumps. There can no longer be one system of justice for them and another for the rest of us. Sick of it.
And it’s noteworthy that Trump can only pardon for federal crimes, not anything the states were to bring. So NY AG Letitia James (who’s pursuing a state case against Trump) could file something against Maxwell if he pardoned after she pled guilty to some of the lesser pending federal charges.
You can be pardoned under indictment as well. Casper Weinberger and other Iran Contra figures were as Bush Sr left the White House. And Ford pardoned Nixon. It’s pretty rare though.
Do these people have no shame?. Andrew has no business being back in the public eye with all the horrible things he’s done. He truly is the favourite. He is still wanted for questioning by the FBI and chances of that blowing over with a Biden administration is nil to none. Things will get interesting when the queen dies.
Yes I think Charles will make a lot of changes when his reign officially begins.
I don’t believe he will hand Andrew over to authorities because what comes out would damage the family (unless enough comes out to make handing him over the best way to protect the family). But I do believe Andrew will essentially be exiled.
Honestly I am much more curious to see what happens with William when the queen dies. Charles must know what his son is, will he feel the pressure to be harder on him when he is next in line? How will William react?
It would hilarious to me if Charles turned into his father when he becomes king.
If and when Charles becomes king, he will have to ask Willeaks to buck up his ideas and do more than be keen to do or be incandescent with rage. He needs something tangible as a legacy. But I suppose it’s in Charles’ best interest for his heir to be mediocre and nondescript. If William kept his looks and had Harry’s charisma and work ethic, he definitely would have been able to push his father out of the way.
What part of pedophile rapist does the queen not understand? There is no coming back from that.
I honestly hope Biden- Harris speak softly and carry an extremely large stick. Boris has been behind the scenes begging for Brexit help since the election was called. In my dream fantasy I want the incoming admin to say we’ll help on one secret condition – give us Randy Andy. The Queen will never allow it and the US gets to say we tried but they were unreasonable in negotiations. Whatever happens after will be their fault, first for Brexit-Ing in the first pace and second for not taking help when offered.
So Andy is still throwing a tantrum and the courtiers have escalated to saying “Andy must talk to the FBI” – I hope Charles wins this one and Andy has to at least go through a pretence of a FBI interrogation. Nothing will happen to him, he will not be charged, but it will establish him even more firmly in the public mind as someone involved with that level of crime and abuse.
A bit off topic, but with all the screaming about the cost of Frogmore Cottage and the Sussex’s leaving why does no one question Fergie living at Royal Lodge apparently rent free?? She’s no longer a member even of the royal family but continues to make money off of her connection and appears to live rent free in a taxpayer funded home. Where the hell is the outrage about this?!
Fergie is white. ‘Nuff said.
Can an American president pardon a non citizen?
I’m guessing Queenie was hoping Trump would win and continue to protect Andrew but that’s not happening so back in the closet he goes!
I never thought of this angle. I always wondered why Petty Betty gave a state dinner for Cheeto and family (and I have a feeling that the kids just tagged along) when he was such a boor the first time he met her. But maybe she was angling for a pardon for her favorite son, or at least some sort of legal protection?
Yes they can be. There’ve been a handful in history but not in a long time. Pardons can be granted for the crimes against the United states, the nationality of the perpetrator is immaterial.
Prince Andrew is what Harry was supposed to be, crawling and fighting to remain in the fold. The others cling to royal life like their life depends on it, (which it does, nobody has any skills let’s be real) bowing and scraping for any crumbs. It was the same for Margaret, Edward, Fergie, and now Andrew. That fact that Harry left on his own terms and his happy with his decision and thriving, while mummy’s favorite becomes a laughing stock makes them all seethe.
^^^ This. So much.
He’ll back on royal duty when harry and meghan confirm that they won’t be rejoining the firm.
I expect when the Queen is gone, Charles’ last act of kindness towards Andrew will be to confine him to a lovely mansion prison in Mustique, South Africa or some other commonwealth nation.
I have always believed there is a bigger reason for Andrew’s banishment. The palace knows there is more to be told and are holding their collective breaths, waiting for the other shoe to drop. This should be fun.
@Julia K. I think you’re on to something there.
The trick over a pardon for Maxwell is that you lose your protection against self incrimination unless that testimony leads to separate charges not covered under the pardon. So she could then be compelled to testify against Trump et al. I would think Bill Barr, chief sycophant, would warn of this.