Should King Charles cut Andrew loose?
Royal Clubbers have made their feelings clear...
Hello, Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie here. I think anyone can see it’s a tough time to be associated with the York family at the moment. Latest developments in Prince Andrew’s association with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein see him named in the ‘Epstein files’, and an email emerged from Sarah Ferguson describing Epstein as a “supreme friend”.
It’s often seemed that blood is thicker than water when it comes to the royals’ treatment of Prince Andrew, but it is finally time for the King to reconsider?
Read on to discover the latest developments with Prince Andrew, and how Royal Clubbers feel the King should manage his brother…
Firstly, the latest developments in the York association with Epstein have been twofold.
Just a few days ago, files turned over to the House Oversight Committee by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate include a manifest for a flight from New Jersey to Florida in May 2000, which names the Prince Andrew among the passengers. Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s associate, was also present.
She was convicted of conspiring with Epstein to traffic girls for sex in 2021, while Epstein was a convicted paedophile.
Furthermore, in 2011 the Duchess of York gave an interview with the Evening Standard, where she apologised for accepting £15,000 from the disgraced financier. “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.
“Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
Then, around a month later, she wrote an email, which read: “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.
“I was advised in no uncertain terms, to have nothing to do with you and to not speak or email you. And if I did – I would cause more problems to you, the duke and myself. I was broken and lost. So please understand. I didn’t want to hurt Andrew one more time. I was in over-riding fear. I am sorry.”
James Henderson, the duchess’s spokesperson at the time, said the email was sent after a “really menacing and nasty” phone call from Epstein in the wake of the interview.
This latest revelation has simply added to Prince Andrew’s woes, and the increasing public sentiment against him.
It goes without saying that such an association – which continued after Epstein’s initial convictions – is utterly damaging for a man who previously held a position of power and influence within the royal family.
You might argue that this friendship has cost him many privileges in the years since Epstein’s death in 2019, including Andrew’s role as a working royal and funding from the Sovereign Grant, but have things gone far enough?
He still lives in the Royal Lodge, and while the King doesn’t pay for his security or housing any more, I have to wonder why Prince Andrew is still allowed to appear so prominently at functions like the Christmas Day service at Sandringham and most recently the Duchess of Kent’s funeral.
Of course, he has absolute right to attend the funeral of a family member, but why were the Duke and Duchess of York so far forward? Practically shoulder to shoulder with the King, a physical association that sends a message.
Andrew’s prominent presence to me suggests a refusal to accept his own wrongdoing. Prince William was spotted keeping his distance from his uncle at the funeral but the King did not act similarly.
In Emily’s newsletter last week, we asked you to let us know what you think Charles should do about his brother, and the results were conclusive: 83 per cent of you said he should cut Prince Andrew out, while 12 per cent of you felt he shouldn’t.
I can understand why something as extreme as complete banishment from public family life is not something the King would push his brother into easily. Sibling bonds run deep in any family, and Charles may feel Andrew has been punished enough.
Besides, the late Queen placed such an importance on keeping family together that any further fragmentation in the family might be out of the question, especially against Andrew who was said to be her favourite son.
Maybe the royals have decided that with all the familial strife in recent years, namely Prince Harry’s split from the family and Prince Andrew’s disgrace, that a line must be drawn in the sand somewhere, and Prince Andrew’s presence at certain family events is them trying to take a step towards normality.
Despite this, I absolutely agree with the Royal Clubbers that publicly King Charles should have as little to do with his brother as possible, both to protect the royal family from further reputational harm and to avoid the public seeing the royals as a force for good.
I’ve had my say, now it’s over to you. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Further reading
What’s going on with Charles and William?
Is the tide turning for Prince Harry?
A history of US state visits to the UK
It's like the pot calling the kettle black. King Charles carried on with Camilly which ruined his marriage to Diana. Get rid of Camilla also.
I don't think Prince Andrew should be kicked out of his own family. I think that punishment should be over. It's gone on for to long. After all, family is close to each other, and it will always be that way.
Sincerely
Ms. Cheryl Ann Goddard
From America