Prince Andrew urged to move abroad and 'start new life' amid Epstein scandal
Prince Andrew has given up his royal title and remaining honoursPrince Andrew is facing calls to move abroad amid the ongoing scandal surrounding him.
The second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip announced last Friday (October 17) that he will no longer use his Duke of York title and will give up his remaining royal honours.
Over the last few years, Andrew, 65, has faced scrutiny over his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew was accused of sexual assault, allegations he has always vehemently denied. Virginia Giuffre alleged she was made to have sex with the prince in the early 2000s after being trafficked by Epstein.
Last week, Prince Andrew was back in the headlines as details emerged from Ms Giuffre’s upcoming posthumous memoir, which she wrote before her tragic death. She took her own life in April.
On Friday, Andrew announced via Buckingham Palace that he would be giving up his royal title. During the statement, he also said: “As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Prince Andrew scandal
Now, royal commentators are calling for Prince Andrew to start a new life out of the UK.
Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019. It came after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, in which he addressed his friendship with Epstein as well as deny the sexual assault allegations.
In 2021, Ms Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in the US, accusing him of sexual assault.
The idea of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson going abroad into exile would be manna from heaven for the royal family.
In February 2022, the prince and Ms Giuffre reached an out-of-court settlement. Prince Andrew paid Ms Giuffre an undisclosed sum. However, Andrew made it clear, by doing so, he did not accept any liability.
Weeks earlier, Andrew had been stripped of his military titles and royal patronages.
He hasn’t returned to public duties since and has kept a low profile when it comes to royal events.
Prince Andrew urged to ‘move abroad’
Now, following the latest developments, royal commentators have suggested Andrew move abroad.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, royal author Ingrid Seward insisted the scandal won’t go away.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier said: “If I was him, I would go and live somewhere else. I’d say, ‘I’m not wanted any more, it’s obvious I have no future here [in the UK].’ Start a new life while you can.”
Ingrid added that Sarah “might have to” follow Andrew.
Meanwhile, fellow commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Royal Insider: “The idea of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson going abroad into exile would be manna from heaven for the royal family, facing endless problems as the headlines remain terrible.”
He warned: “This is a massive scandal and will worsen when Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir is published and more material is available from the Epstein files.”
He also said Andrew and Sarah “should downsize” from their 30-room home of Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Sarah herself has faced scandal in relation to Epstein. Last month, a resurfaced 2011 email revealed she once referred to Epstein as a “supreme friend,” allegedly sent just weeks after she publicly vowed to cut ties with him.
A spokesperson for the duchess claimed the email was sent under duress. They said that Epstein had “threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia”.
Read more: Royal family website makes big change after Prince Andrew title announcement
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