MIAMI.- After documents linked to a lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein for pedophilia and sexual trafficking, the name of the prncipe Andrsbrother of rey Charles IIIhas once again grabbed the headlines, as he is one of those accused of not only maintaining a close friendship with the financier, but also of having agreed to maintain relationships with minors.
The scandal that shook the British monarchy began in 2015, when Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey for sex trafficking. Her testimony made official an investigation that US authorities had been developing for years.
It was then that the name of the Duke of York appeared.
Accusations against Prince Andrew
Both Giuffre and Johanna Sjoberg, another of Epstein’s many victims, alleged that they had been forced to have sexual relations with the prince while they were still minors.
The statements were supported with photographic evidence of the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II with the victims; However, in the face of controversy, Buckingham Palace rejected the accusations and the prince emphasized, in an interview with the BBC, that he did not remember having met the women who pointed this out.
However, his statements, far from calming public opinion, further fueled the controversy, so he was forced to step away from his royal duties.
In recent days it has become clear to me that the circumstances surrounding my previous association with Jeffrey Epstein have become a significant disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work carried out at the numerous organizations and charities I am involved in. proud to support. (…) Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I can leave my public duties in the foreseeable future, and she has given me her permission, “she declared in a statement, in which she also regretted the ties of her with Epstein.
Charles III execute actions?
Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth II also removed the prince’s military titles and patronages in 2022.
Now, with the recent publication of the so-called Epstein list, many wonder if this evidence will be enough for the crown to once again debate the fate of the Duke of York, as well as whether King Charles III will make the decision to withdraw his noble titles. brother, something that would also force the prince to lose his place in the line of succession to the throne.
To this day, Andrés retains his privileges, but does not use the style “your royal highness” in any environment. The duke also continues to participate in family activities and events.
According to information from Gert’s Royals, King Charles III has no intention of eliminating his brother’s titles. And, even if he wanted to, he does not have enough power to carry this out.
Britain’s King Charles III (L), Britain’s Princess Anne, the Princess Royal (C) and Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York walk behind the procession of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, from the Palace of Holyroodhouse up to the Cat
AFP/ Phil Noble
The blog specialized in British and European royalty noted in X that the English Parliament is the only one with the power to carry out this action.
“Parliament can remove titles. But they will find it difficult in this case. The legislative branch (Parliament) or the executive branch (Forfeiture Committee) do not have powers to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime. It is the job of the judiciary. “(Courts) determine if someone is guilty. And then other branches can act on that decision. And as there have never been charges or convictions against Prince Andrew, in the eyes of the UK government, he is innocent,” the statement reads.
Currently, there is a bill that seeks to give monarchs the power to eliminate titles; but, until now, it has not been promulgated.
