Related Articles
The guilty verdicts in New York will change little for Prince Andrew, who is a ‘busted flush’, due to his friendship with billionaire paedophile Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, according to royal experts.
The jury’s confirmation that Ghislaine was the willing accomplice for the late Epstein will serve to place Andrew beyond the pale for his elder brother Prince Charles, who already saw him as a liability for the Royal Family.
The Duke of York’s lawyers will try to have the civil lawsuit brought by his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre thrown out of court early next month. But today’s result will make that much more difficult.
And royal observers believe that even a victory for Andrew at that stage – or at a full trial expected in the Autumn – would still not be enough to remove the stigma attached to his name over his friendship with Epstein.
And the sensational verdict in Ghislaine’s case will have done nothing to bolster confidence in Andrew’s camp at having Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit dismissed.
Few references to the Prince have not been accompanied by the photograph of him with his arm round the waist of 17-year-old Virginia Roberts at Ms Maxwell’s mews house in London, an occasion which he claims not to recall
Prince Andrew strongly denies Ms Giuffre’s (pictured at court in New York on August 27, 2019) allegations that he slept with her as a 17-year-old sex slave after she claimed to have been trafficked to him at the London house
‘He’s a busted flush,’ one seasoned royal expert told MailOnline. ‘Unfortunately for Andrew, it’s no longer so much about evidence and proof, or what if anything went on with Virginia Giuffre — it’s all about public perception.
‘Andrew’s handling of this whole affair, coupled with his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, have made him into a toxic brand for the rest of the Royal Family.
‘Only the Queen, who has always considered him as her favourite, remains loyal, while the other Royals are keen to keep him at arm’s length.’
Officially, Andrew’s position is that he has ‘stepped back’ from royal duties while the court case is resolved, but it’s difficult to envisage how he could once again take his place in public life in the same way as previously.
At the moment, the Duke is not expected to play any high-profile part in the forthcoming commemorations for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war in June, despite his role on active service as a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter pilot during the 1982 conflict.
Prince Andrew first met Ghislaine Maxwell when she was at university and the pair had known each other for nearly 20 years when she is alleged to have introduced him to Epstein
Ghislaine Maxwell (right) and the American financier (left) were believed to be dating at the time and the Duke subsequently struck up a friendship with Epstein
As a veteran, Prince Andrew would be perfectly entitled to attend any of the events to mark the recapture of Port Stanley, but it is understood that no official invitations have been extended.
Prince Andrew was frequently mentioned by the prosecution in the trial, as a friend of Epstein and Ms Maxwell, a visitor to the billionaire’s townhouse in Manhattan and his private island Little St James – and as having travelled at least four times on the infamous ‘Lolita Express’, Epstein’s private jet.
Few references to the Prince have not been accompanied by the photograph of him with his arm round the waist of 17-year-old Virginia Roberts at Ms Maxwell’s mews house in London, an occasion which he claims not to recall.
Prince Andrew strongly denies Ms Giuffre’s allegations that he slept with her as a 17-year-old sex slave after she claimed to have been trafficked to him at the London house. It has even been reported at one stage that ‘sources close to Andrew’ suggested the photo could have been faked.
That said, his team must have breathed a sigh of relief over the fact that Ms Giuffre was never called to the stand to give evidence during the Maxwell trial, despite being ‘available to do so’.
In a hearing on Saturday, prosecutors taunted Maxwell’s defence lawyers by saying they could have invited Miss Roberts to take the stand but had chosen not to. Andrew Rohrbach said: ‘The most obvious witness who was available to both sides and who we expect the defence to comment on is Virginia Roberts, who was described as a victim but did not testify and she was fully available to the defendants. They did not call her.’
A source close to the Duke told MailOnline: ‘This was Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial – not the Duke’s. Nothing new of any substance has been raised in relation to the Duke – any mentions have been glancing blows, not body blows.’
Prince Andrew first met Ghislaine Maxwell when she was at university and the pair had known each other for nearly 20 years when she is alleged to have introduced him to Epstein.
She and the American financier were believed to be dating at the time and the Duke subsequently struck up a friendship with Epstein.
It was that relationship which allegedly saw him make multiple visits to Epstein’s homes and his island.
Those who have known Prince Andrew for decades say he is a victim of his own boorish, entitled arrogance and his biggest mistake – and one which many other high-profile individuals also made, not least former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, was to allow himself to associate with the likes of a man like Epstein at all
Andrew’s lawyers will bring their motion to the District Court in New York next month, seeking a dismissal. Court filings state that he ‘unequivocally denies’ sexually abusing or assaulting Ms Giuffre.
His lawyer Andrew Brettler states in the court papers that ‘accusing a member of the world’s best known royal family of serious misconduct has helped Giuffre create a media frenzy online and in the traditional press.
‘It is unfortunate, but undeniable, that sensationalism and innuendo have prevailed over the truth.
‘Giuffre has initiating this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew to achieve another payday at his expense and a the expense of those closest to him Epstein’s abuse of Giuffre does not justify her public campaign against Prince Andrew’.
Those who have known Prince Andrew for decades say he is a victim of his own boorish, entitled arrogance and his biggest mistake – and one which many other high-profile individuals also made, not least former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, was to allow himself to associate with the likes of a man like Epstein at all.
‘Andrew is out in the cold now and likely to stay there, whatever happens’ said one who has met the Duke many times over the years. ‘He doesn’t help himself with his couldn’t-care-less attitude, which makes people resent him.
‘I don’t think we’re likely to see much of him in the future, whatever happens in the civil case in New York, because he’ll find it impossible to shake off this stigma.
‘He’s likely to see out his days as a rather lonely figure riding out in Windsor Great Park and possibly assisting the Queen behind the scenes, but it seems very unlikely we’ll see him doing public engagements again.’
Source link
