Prince Andrew halts public duties over sex scandal

[webfact]

Prince Andrew halts public duties over sex scandal

By Andy Bruce and Michael Holden

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York visits the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital to open the new Stanmore Building, in London, Britain March 21, 2019. David Mirzoeff/ Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Andrew stepped down from public duties on Wednesday, saying the controversy surrounding his "ill-judged" association with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein had caused major disruption to the royal family's work.

 

Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son, denies an allegation that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured for him by his friend Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

 

The scandal has escalated since Andrew's rambling explanations in a disastrous BBC TV interview aired on Saturday left many viewers incredulous, and his apparent lack of compassion for Epstein's victims drew widespread condemnation.

 

As the story dominated news headlines for a fourth day and a slew of businesses distanced themselves from organisations and charities associated with the prince, he said he would step down from public life for the time being and speak to police about Epstein.

 

"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work," he said in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.

 

"Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission," said Andrew, 59, whose official title is the Duke of York.

 

"Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."

 

Andrew's conduct has overshadowed much of the political campaigning for Britain's parliamentary election on Dec. 12.

 

In a televised debate on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the monarchy was "beyond reproach" while opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said the institution "needs a bit of improvement" and that there were questions to be answered.

 

THE FAVOURITE

Andrew, widely reputed to be the favourite of the queen's three sons, has been under scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein for the past several years.

 

Now eighth-in-line to the throne, he quit as Britain's roving trade ambassador in 2011 after being lambasted for his links to the financier following his jailing in 2008 for child sex offences.

 

Then in 2015, one of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, said she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002, when she says Epstein kept her as a "sex slave".

 

In his BBC interview, he categorically denied the sex claims and gave a series of explanations as to why her account was not true, such as not being able to sweat and being at a pizza restaurant in the suburban town of Woking, provoking derision and ridicule in newspapers and social media.

 

He also told the BBC he had met Epstein in 1999 but his private secretary had written to the Times newspaper in 2011 saying they were introduced in the early 1990s.

 

Rather than drawing a line under the accusations, the interview led to more questions and businesses pulling out of supporting his charities and Pitch@Palace scheme to help young tech entrepreneurs.

 

BT, one of Britain's oldest companies and its largest broadband provider, told a scheme that helps develop digital skills to drop Andrew as its patron if it wanted to maintain BT's support.

 

"I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein," Andrew said in his latest statement. "His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure."

 

FROM HELICOPTER PILOT TO "AIRMILES ANDY"

As a young man, Andrew was one of the most popular royals, acclaimed by the British press for his active service as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War and earning the nickname “"Randy Andy" for his courting of glamorous girlfriends.

 

He turned heads when he dated U.S. actress Koo Stark who had appeared in a soft-porn film.

 

But, the once second-in-line to the throne dropped in the public's affection and as he slipped down the line of succession, he was dubbed "Airmiles Andy" over accusations of a lavish jetset playboy lifestyle, funded by the taxpayer.

 

His 1986 marriage to flame-haired Sarah Ferguson, which was hailed as a breath of fresh air to the monarchy, ended in divorce a decade later but she remains one of his strongest supporters.

 

"Andrew is a true+real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness + goodness," she wrote on Twitter on Friday.

 

Royal commentators say Andrew has always been fiercely protective of his royal status, insisting that his daughters Eugenie and Beatrice were princesses, a contrast to the children of his elder sister Anne who have no title.

 

Eugenie's wedding last October took place at Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry married his American actress wife Meghan months earlier, drawing media criticism over the estimated 2 million pound ($2.6 million) security bill borne by taxpayers.

 

Queen Elizabeth herself, who was celebrating her 72nd wedding anniversary with husband Prince Philip on Wednesday, appeared at a reception to present the naturalist David Attenborough with an award but made no comment about Andrew.

 

Dickie Arbiter, the monarch's former press secretary, said Andrew's decision was inevitable.

 

"He really had no choice, he'd gone into that interview on the belief probably it was crisis management, but he created more of a crisis than managing it," Arbiter told Sky News.

 

"I'm sorry to say he's arrogant enough to believe his own myth that he could get away with it, and he didn't get away with it. I think the queen is very frustrated. At 93, she doesn't need this."

 

(Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Angus MacSwan and Philippa Fletcher)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-21

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[Radar501]

Another day, another scandal plaguing the Inbreds at Buckinghuge Palace.

 

 

[faraday]

"ill - judged"?

 

He knew exactly what he was doing!

[ezzra]

Here's a guy that has foolishly let his little head rule his big head, and as a royalty, he should have known better, but the lure of young pretty girls on tap was too much for him to remember who and what he is and to act accordingly, Shame really... 

[steve187]

The royal bashers are out today

[soalbundy]

20 minutes ago, faraday said:

"ill - judged"?

 

He knew exactly what he was doing!

True but we don't. Be realistic, we aren't talking about innocent schoolgirls who have been raped, conniving teenagers with a thirst for money and adventure, dancing the light fan tango would be a better description and the scent of money has just become a little stronger years down the line. Where were the parents during all this, the girls weren't chained to the walls and could presumably have left anytime they wanted to. Randy Andy was indiscrete and let his guard down, rather stupid of him with his position and lifes training, arrogance won.

[colinneil]

So randy Andy halts his duties, that will give him more to to get up to more mischief.

[Somtamnication]

He came across as such an arrogant, holier-than-though person; he deserves this backlash. Shame shame.

[neeray]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

his friend Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison

I always feel like the word "allegedly" is missing from in front of "killed himself" when I read statements like this.

[Credo]

6 minutes ago, neeray said:

I always feel like the word "allegedly" is missing from in front of "killed himself" when I read statements like this.

Nope.   Once the coroner ruled it a suicide, then allegedly no longer applies. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Here's a guy that has foolishly let his little head rule his big head, and as a royalty, he should have known better, but the lure of young pretty girls on tap was too much for him to remember who and what he is and to act accordingly, Shame really... 

I don't think he did it, I don't think his 'little head' went anywhere near the girl.

I despise the royals, but that isn't a reason to believe false accusations against them.

Edited November 21, 2019 by BritManToo

[Orton Rd]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't think he did it, I don't think his 'little head' went anywhere near the girl.

I despise the royals, but that isn't a reason to believe false accusations against them.

It's not an accusation that he hung around with a convicted sex abuser and pedophile, it's a fact. Good that he has offered to talk to the FBI, should have done so before talking to the BBC.

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

It's not an accusation that he hung around with a convicted sex abuser and pedophile, it's a fact. Good that he has offered to talk to the FBI, should have done so before talking to the BBC.

I worked with Rolf Harris, drank with David Icke, and partied with Bob Geldof and Paula Yates.

Doesn't mean I shared their sexual preferences, believed in lizard men, or took the same drugs.

 

Although I'm starting to think David might be right after all ..........

[Orton Rd]

Just now, BritManToo said:

I worked with Rolf Harris, drank with David Icke, and partied with Bob Geldof and Paula Yates.

Doesn't mean I shared their sexual preferences, believed in lizard men, or took the same drugs.

 

Although I'm starting to think David might be right after all ..........

You were not the Duke of Pork though doing it all on the public purse, mad old Dave might have a point- reptiles don't sweat do they ????

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

You were not the Duke of Pork though doing it all on the public purse,

All my party time was 100% funded by the BBC, which some may consider 'the public purse'.

Although I prefer to think of it as 'legitimate work expenses'.

 

I still don't think Andy did it.

Very hard to refute an accusation made 20 years after the event, I certainly don't remember that far back in much detail.

Edited November 21, 2019 by BritManToo

[klauskunkel]

That's a rock quarry

[mfd101]

The Ship of State is slowly deserting the sinking rat.

[car720]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Then in 2015, one of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, said she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002, when she says Epstein kept her as a "sex slave".

Why do I just so not believe this.  So much trial by media these days.  Now we learn that the screws at the prison falsified their documents.

[Orton Rd]

Effectively sacked by his mum for lying his face off on the telly, Fergie and Andy, dumb and dumber. Forget the tarty piece from 2001, whether she was telling the truth is not cannot be proved. What is known to be true is his friendship with a convicted time served pedo and pimp and his laughable attempt to hoodwink the public about it on the BBC.

[jobsworth]

we should be supporting randy andy.

he is a brave soldier who risked his life for our freedom.

the paedophile industry is so rich that it is a runaway program

that needs new victims to maintain the income stream.

at least he knows what he is accused of doing.

that is unusual.

the age of consent in the uk is 16 after being raised from

13 and before that from 10 in victorian times.

it is only the american christians that are opposed to sex

that have raised the age of consent to 18

and would prefer 24,

 

[oldies1]

He's starting to look like Terry Wogan !

Am i the only one noticing this ? :)

[stevenl]

Seems this is his first wise decision in this event.

[Ramen087]

1 hour ago, jobsworth said:

we should be supporting randy andy.

he is a brave soldier who risked his life for our freedom.

the paedophile industry is so rich that it is a runaway program

that needs new victims to maintain the income stream.

at least he knows what he is accused of doing.

that is unusual.

the age of consent in the uk is 16 after being raised from

13 and before that from 10 in victorian times.

it is only the american christians that are opposed to sex

that have raised the age of consent to 18

and would prefer 24,

 

How can you possibly know what all American Christians want? Is that all Christians in the Americas?  

[Orton Rd]

35 minutes ago, oldies1 said:

He's starting to look like Terry Wogan !

Am i the only one noticing this ? ????

Terry has been in a coffin for some time!

[Orton Rd]

23 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Seems this is his first wise decision in this event.

Not his decision and the message was probably not even written by the <deleted>, if it was it would have to have been approved by HM

[neeray]

3 hours ago, Credo said:

Nope.   Once the coroner ruled it a suicide, then allegedly no longer applies. 

That was my opinion. I am aware of the coroner's ruling. But I don't for a second believe that this was a suicide. I repeat "my opinion".

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, jobsworth said:

we should be supporting randy andy.

he is a brave soldier who risked his life for our freedom.

the paedophile industry is so rich that it is a runaway program

that needs new victims to maintain the income stream.

at least he knows what he is accused of doing.

that is unusual.

the age of consent in the uk is 16 after being raised from

13 and before that from 10 in victorian times.

it is only the american christians that are opposed to sex

that have raised the age of consent to 18

and would prefer 24,

 

I think it is the other way round, the American evangelicals want their girls to marry in their early teens.

[The Old Bull]

5 hours ago, faraday said:

"ill - judged"?

 

He knew exactly what he was doing!

So did that young pussy. They cannot pretend they didn't know what they were there for.

[faraday]

1 minute ago, The Old Bull said:

So did that young pussy. They cannot pretend they didn't know what they were there for.

However, Epstein et al were/ are adults by about 20 years, & had, most probably considerable influence over them.

 

The females were under 18.

 

 

[Thingamabob]

One thing is for sure. The picture of Andy with his arm around the girl is a fake. Anyone can see that.