Queen Elizabeth made a surprising announcement in January 2022, when she disinherited her son Prince Andrew and forbade him to use the HRH title.
Although mothers naturally prioritize their children and go to great measures to safeguard them, Her Majesty is also responsible for defending the entire British Monarchy.
In 2019, Andrew stepped down from his formal royal duties after years of criticism over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, but a civil complaint launched by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre made it possible that a royal might have to be involved in a sexual assault prosecution in the United States.
What Is Prince Andrew’s Background?
The Duke of York, age 61, is the Queen’s third son and ninth in line to the throne. His older sibling is Prince Charles of Wales, and his older sister is Princess Anne.
Two of his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are from his marriage to Sarah, Duchess of York.
According to Bob Morris, a research associate at University College London’s Constitution Unit, these last vestiges of the monarchy can only be abolished through acts of parliament.
Mr. McClure speculates that the queen will have to provide financial support to her son, much as she did when Prince Charles divorced his first wife, Diana.
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What Exactly Is Prince Andrew Being Accused Of?
In a recent civil action brought in the United States, the Duke of York was accused of sexual abuse. Virginia Giuffre claims in court records that she was sexually used and abused by Jeffrey Epstein beginning when she was 16 years old.
She accuses Prince Andrew of abusing her in 2001 in London, New York City, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and she claims that he rented her out to other influential men. The Prince even posed for a photo with her.
As a minor, Ms. Giuffre claims the Duke sexually assaulted her three times. “As for Ms. Giuffre and the other survivors, Prince Andrew admires their courage and thanks them for speaking up.
He promises that he would show his remorse for having worked with Epstein by lending his support to efforts to end sex trafficking and help those who have fallen victim to it.”
If There Was No Wrongdoing, Why Did the Lawsuit Have to Be Brought to New York at This Time?
Giuffre states in the complaint that she is taking the case to federal court in Manhattan because Prince Andrew “sexually assaulted plaintiff in this state, and has thereby committed a tortious act within this state.”
For context, the Child Victims Act was signed into law by ex-governor Andrew Cuomo in February 2019, giving adult survivors a year from the date of the incident to file a civil suit for crimes committed against them when they were minors.
After the deadline to submit was delayed to August 14, 2021, because of the pandemic, Giuffre publicized her lawsuit on August 9.
Giuffre would benefit more from filing in Manhattan due to the Child Victims Act and the location of one of the alleged crimes there as opposed to the United Kingdom, where Prince Andrew currently resides.
While British attorney Richard Spafford acknowledged that “in theory, she could sue for damages in England,” he also noted that “given the dates of the alleged incidents, it is likely that Prince Andrew would be able to argue that any claim was time-barred and could not be pursued.”