When a Prince Becomes a Problem: What is to be done with Prince Andrew?

Image - John Robert Mallernee

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Prince Andrew touts giving up his royal titles as a self-sacrificing act done for ‘duty’, ‘family and country.’ But, to those of us without ivory towers, watching from below, it seems more like a punishment for a naughty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The accusations surrounding Prince Andrew and his relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein have plagued the royal family for years. Perhaps now is finally the time for the royals to guard themselves against their own, or see their institution haunted by the ghost of Epstein for decades to come.

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The recent allegations in Virginia Giuffre’s memoir have led to renewed calls for Prince Andrew to be investigated. The public mood has continued to sour with the swathe of allegations that continue to come out about him. As a member of the royal family, he is uniquely placed to be above most social norms that apply to us regular citizens. It is likely that without his position he would have been subject to harsh police scrutiny long ago. The rule of law is meant to be a pillar of our democracy, and yet Prince Andrew seems to dodge accountability every time. Where was the police investigation into his whereabouts after the infamous Newsnight interview? The flimsy nature of his so-called ‘alibis’ have been highlighted repeatedly. No matter how much he protests, the public is just simply not buying it.

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His decision to give up his royal titles maybe shocking symbolically, however, it does nothing for the alleged victims. It does nothing to uphold the principle of the rule of law and is nothing more than a meaningless gesture. He still holds the titles unless stripped of them by an Act of Parliament. What Prince Andrew has allegedly given up is something that he does not even have the power to do. He has simply made a symbolic gesture in an attempt to placate the public. Associating with a known paedophile and continually lying about it reminds the public that those with power will do anything to hide their secrets. Prince Andrew refuses to take responsibility for his actions and the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein seems reluctant to let him go.

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It is undeniable that Prince Andrew needs to formally address the accusations made against him. More importantly, the police must be allowed to fully scrutinise and investigate the allegations against him and consequences such as prison time must not be taken off the table if he is found to have committed an offence. Prince Andrew must face the full force of the law just as any other citizen would. It is unacceptable that the rule of law can be subverted, even subtly, in the Royals attempts to protect themselves.

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As for the royal family itself, it is questionable as to why they have even allowed Prince Andrew to sully their reputation thus far. Even the late Queen Elizabeth II became embroiled in the controversy when it was reported that she had allegedly contributed to Prince Andrew’s out of court settlement with Giuffre. It is clear that the royals have to do something to separate themselves from Prince Andrew.

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Rumours continue to swirl around whether Prince William and King Charles forced the Prince to give up his titles. The institution of the monarchy is being continually damaged by their paralysis and refusal to act decisively when it comes to Prince Andrew. The public mood continues to worsen and the family’s inability to be receptive to this will only continue to hurt their image for years to come.

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Deciding what to do about Prince Andrew is without doubt a difficult task. However, cooperating in a full investigation and encouraging scrutiny is surely a good first step. The royals must cut off the rot before it consumes the institution that they have worked so hard to protect, especially with arguments about the monarchy becoming obsolete having been around for decades. Protecting someone who may or may not have committed a crime simply because of his position is archaic and not in line with today’s modern democracy that we live in. The rule of law must prevail in a modern society and a modern royal family must accept that they cannot escape this through symbolic gestures and out of court settlements.

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The problem of Prince Andrew can be resolved. The royal family can exude strength and demonstrate their commitment to justice and the rule of law by ensuring that Prince Andrew cooperates in a full investigation. However, as everyone has seen, their inability to cut Prince Andrew out is a symptom of a larger institutional problem. The monarchy represents Britain, and unless the royal family do something more, the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein is going to take up permanent residence in their palace.