Prince Andrew is facing renewed backlash following allegations in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, where she claimed he believed it was his entitlement to have a relationship with her and alleged his aides attempted to hire internet trolls to attack her online. This revelation has triggered anger in Westminster, with Shadow minister Robert Jenrick calling for Andrew to step out of the public eye entirely, emphasizing that he has brought disgrace to himself and the royal family repeatedly, and suggesting that taxpayers should not continue to fund his lifestyle.
Pressure is escalating on Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing, to give up his extensive 30-bedroom royal residence, which he has resided in for over two decades at a nominal rent. The Scottish National Party has proposed a parliamentary motion to strip him of his title, with MP Rachael Maskell expressing constituents’ disapproval of Andrew carrying the city’s name in his title. Republic, a campaign group, is demanding a comprehensive investigation into the royal family’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein and the efforts to shield Andrew.
A recent YouGov poll revealed that 80% of Britons support the formal removal of Prince Andrew’s dukedom. The survey indicated overwhelming public backing for stripping Andrew of his title, with only a small percentage opposing the idea. As calls for Andrew’s removal intensify, legal experts suggest that attempting to evict him from Royal Lodge, where he has paid minimal rent for more than two decades, would be exceedingly challenging due to the terms of his long lease.
Moreover, there are growing calls for transparency regarding who within Buckingham Palace was aware of Andrew’s alleged actions involving Virginia Giuffre, as he faces potential police questioning. The release of emails suggesting Andrew may have shared private information about Giuffre has further fueled the controversy surrounding him. The ongoing scandal involving Andrew’s association with Epstein continues to cast a shadow over the royal family, with questions arising about the monarchy’s handling of the situation.