Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's birthday set to be 'more like a wake than a celebration' amid Epstein revelations
Andrew turns 66 on February 19Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will mark his 66th birthday this week but it won’t be a celebration amid the ongoing Epstein scandal, a royal commentator has said.
The former prince turns 66 on February 19. It’s currently a turbulent time for Andrew as he faces intense scrutiny over his association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, the US Department of Justice released more than three million files relating to Epstein and his crimes.
Within these files, images appeared to show Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the ground. However, the files didn’t supply context to the images.
Elsewhere, emails have suggested that Andrew allegedly shared confidential information with Epstein from his official work as trade envoy in 2010 and 2011.
Andrew has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Being named or pictured among the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein scandal
For years, Andrew’s links to Epstein have sparked much scrutiny.
November 2019 saw Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight interview take place. The former Duke of York was grilled over his association with Epstein.
He claimed he cut contact with the disgraced financier in late 2010. However, emails have emerged appearing to show Andrew in contact with Epstein in early 2011.
In his Newsnight interview, Andrew also faced questions about Virginia Giuffre.
This is not a celebration, it will be more like a wake.
Ms Giuffre alleged that she was made to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations. In the interview, he said he had no recollection of ever meeting Ms Giuffre.
The interview sparked huge backlash, with many branding it a “car crash”. Days after it aired, Andrew stepped back from royal duties.
He’s now firmly in royal exile and with his birthday coming up, one royal commentator has said Andrew “will do nothing to attract attention”.
How Andrew could spend his birthday
Richard Fitzwilliams shared his thoughts on how Andrew could spend his birthday.
He told Royal Insider: “I think he will do nothing to attract attention, but it is bound to be extensively covered internationally.
“In the last year, with the release of the Epstein files, he has sunk into total disgrace and his titles are in abeyance or removed. He also would have thought his tenure of Royal Lodge was secure, but he has been evicted.”
He continued: “He is a proven liar and four police investigations are currently taking place in Britain into his conduct, both as Trade Envoy who undoubtedly used this post for personal gain and as someone who, deny it though he may, benefited from his ties with the deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“Bizarre images of him with unidentified women have surfaced and we now know for sure that the photograph of him with Virginia Giuffre taken in 2001 is genuine.”
‘It will be more like a wake’
Mr Fitzwilliams also noted that Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has faced scrutiny over her own association with Epstein.
The commentator said that Ferguson too is “ruined”.
Read more: How King Charles ‘put William in his place’ over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal
Concluding his thoughts, Mr Fitzwilliams said of Andrew: “Congress also want him to testify about what he knew, though cannot compel him to.
Referring to the former Duke of York’s upcoming birthday, he added: “This is not a celebration, it will be more like a wake with more, much, much more to come.”
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