Prince Andrew is spotted attending a Service of Thanksgiving for his father, Prince Philip, at Westminster Abbey in London on March 29, 2022. Recently disclosed court documents highlight Andrew's association with the convicted sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The photo was taken by Richard Pohle for The Associated Press.
In the latest development concerning the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the late U.S. financier and convicted sex offender, Prince Andrew finds himself once again in the spotlight as his name emerges in recently unsealed U.S. court documents. The documents shed light on dozens of associates connected to Epstein, detailing the Duke of York's ties to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
Prince Andrew's public image has been under scrutiny since his ill-fated BBC interview in 2019, where he defended his association with Epstein, causing public outrage. In February 2022, he settled a U.S. civil case filed by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually assaulting her more than two decades ago when she was 17. Despite denying the allegations and claiming no memory of meeting Giuffre, the fallout from the case has cast a shadow on the Duke's reputation.
The recently unsealed court documents include a deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, who alleges that Prince Andrew groped her at Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001 while playing with a puppet. Buckingham Palace had previously dismissed Sjoberg's claims as "categorically untrue," but the revelation in the court files adds another layer to the ongoing controversy.
British media has weighed in on the situation, with headlines like "The 'final nail in the coffin' for Prince Andrew" and "Epstein files could not have come at a worse time for Prince Andrew." Commentators believe that these revelations will further damage the Duke's already tarnished reputation.
Despite recent signs hinting at a possible return to public royal duties, the latest developments from across the Atlantic serve as a stark reminder that the scandal surrounding Prince Andrew is far from fading away. Sarah Hewson, royal editor for Talk TV, notes that the repeated mention of Andrew's name in the Epstein files is "really excruciating" for him and the wider Royal Family.
Since the BBC interview, Prince Andrew has maintained a low profile, living in Windsor with his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. Although there were speculations last year about his potential return to royal life, recent events seem to have firmly ruled out any such possibility.
Buckingham Palace, largely silent on the matter, made its last comments in January 2022, announcing the return of the Duke's military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen, emphasizing his continued absence from public duties. The Palace's approach reflects awareness of public sentiment regarding the scandal.
As the anti-monarchist group Republic reports Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police, the monarchy faces additional challenges. King Charles, who ascended to the throne just over a year ago, may seek to distance himself from the scandal and potentially reduce the number of working royals, using the publication of the Epstein papers as a justification.
Experts suggest that Prince Andrew's chances of public rehabilitation are slim to none. Royal historian Carolyn Harris anticipates increased public scrutiny of his finances, with potential pressure on King Charles to further reduce privileges for non-working royals, including Prince Andrew.
In the aftermath of the Epstein revelations, Prince Andrew's path to redemption appears blocked. Despite hypothetical scenarios for other members of the Royal Family, the consensus is that for Prince Andrew, "it is very much over." The enduring shadow of his association with Epstein continues to loom large, ensuring that any hopes of rehabilitation remain elusive.
