Newly released emails have shed light on the connection between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former Prince Andrew, leading the royal biographer to consider them as damning evidence against him. Prince Andrew faced the removal of his royal titles and honors by King Charles following his association with Epstein. Buckingham Palace issued a strong statement in support of abuse survivors amidst the scandal.
In response to the public outcry surrounding Andrew’s ties to Epstein, he has agreed to relinquish his long-term residence, Royal Lodge, where he had been paying a nominal rent to the Crown Estate for over two decades. The mansion gained attention as allegations of sexual assault made by Virginia Giuffre against Andrew resurfaced with the impending release of her memoir. Despite vehemently denying these accusations, Andrew’s situation remains precarious.
Reports suggest that Andrew has been offered a luxurious home in Abu Dhabi if he opts to leave the UK, reminiscent of the path taken by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Currently, Andrew is believed to be relocating to a property on King Charles’s expansive private estate in Norfolk, Sandringham. Andrew Lownie, known for his biography on the royal figure, emphasized that the new batch of Epstein-related emails exposes Andrew’s falsehoods regarding their relationship.
Contrary to Andrew’s claim of cutting ties with Epstein in 2010, the emails reveal continued communication between the two, including Epstein confirming a photo with accuser Virginia Giuffre. Despite Andrew disputing the authenticity of the infamous photo featuring Giuffre, Andrew, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s correspondence corroborates the encounter. Lownie expressed that this new information significantly undermines Andrew’s credibility and urged for a thorough investigation into his actions.
Furthermore, there are speculations about Andrew potentially evading legal repercussions by relocating to the Middle East, akin to King Juan Carlos. The Sun reported an offer of a new residence in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a gesture of appreciation for Andrew’s past role as a trade envoy to the UK. Buckingham Palace is yet to provide a comment on the matter.
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Emma Mackenzie, a features writer for The Mirror with expertise in culture and royal affairs, contributed to this report.