Prince Andrew

Hi, I have looked for and resurrected this thread as I wanted to ask you all a question. I have seen hardly anything on mainstream news regarding this situation with Prince Andrew. I think it is deliberately being avoided by BBC, Sky etc Thinking back to how they practically persecuted Cliff Richard, I find it strange that considering it is a member of our Royal Family , it all seems to have gone quiet. However, other countries seem to be reporting more about this than we are. Do people in this community feel that Prince Andrew's situation is being 'swept under the carpet'? I certainly think so. They can try all they can, in my own opinion I think the prince should retire from public life. I don't know and cannot say if he has commited any crime or not, but he has brought the Royal Family into disrepute. Opinions please.

absolutely swept under the carpet.All the brexit nonsense the past week has made randy andy fade into the background.My friend in the US says he is still a hot topic there.Of course he wont be prosecuted or even have to go to court ,Boris and Co will make sure of that...these people could commit murder and get away with it .

Yes, it'll fizzle out ! He'll still remain to be his hard-faced arrogant self because he's allowed to be and because he can.

I think Fergie knows his little secrets

It was reported by the BBC he started back on official duties, he had four in one week in N,Ireland, three were cancelled by the hosts

There was also photographs of him on a golf course with a lawyer who specialises in representing people facing allegations.

I can understand him not retiring because it will be taken as an admission of guilt and he is claiming he is not guilty.

Yes, I think he should step back.

I’m not a fan , but what would he be prosecuted for, ?
I don’t think a photo of him opening a door with a ( too young looking girl ) behind him is a crime.( even if it should be)
Unless the police receive an accusation of wrong doing , or a police raid takes place , what can/ would/should they do.
I imagine his mother will have given him a severe ear bashing !

Innocent until proven guilty. ( Hopefully )

Unfortunately I agree the UK news outlets appear to be ignoring this (although I gather a recent engagement of his was cancelled - again that didn't get much coverage). As for his being prosecuted - without any tangible evidence this won't happen, unless the journal Epstein claimed to have is found and contains evidence that Andrew knew the age of the girl.

I am a supporter of the RF but Andrew has never been an asset and now every time he appears his friendship with Epstein will be mentioned.

He has always come across as entitled and arrogant - his insistence on his daughters having the titles of princess is just one example.

The person with him at the door was Paul Keatings daughter so not a young girl.

It comes down to - is the woman making the claims that she had sex with him when she was a teenager speaking the truth,
being a friend of Epstein is not a criminal offence.

Anniebach and others yes, I do not know whether or not Prince Andrew has commited any crime, a court of law would need to do that. My question is do you think the media in the UK have swept all this under the carpet? I am convinced it's hardly being reported here.

I do not believe the media would want to sweep it under the carpet ( loss of ?)

Fiachna what is there to report ? The woman has made allegations which have been reported, he has denied allegations which has been reported.

It is now up to the woman’s legal team to make the next move.

Can any of our American Grans please let us know what is being reported there about Andrew? Then we in the UK have some information about what he has been up to regarding his unwise friendship. It is not possible to make an informed opinion from the pictures of him waving goodbye at a door or having his arm around a young woman. However, he did continue to meet up with Epstein after his conviction, as photographic evidence shows. Therefore, he is guilty of being really stupid. Whether he has committed a criminal offence is yet to be proved. The UK media is being silent on this. Not even some sneaky pics of him on holiday with Fergie? Have the paparazzi gone soft?

He should be prosecuted if proven guilty, which he probably is (seeing body language). Prince or not prince nobody should be above the law. Bottom of the line, I'm afraid.

Fiachna50 of course they have. Buckingham Palace must be mulling the British Press, protection in full action. Can only damage them as the public is not stupid. One law for them, one law for us.

Yes, Anniebach I suppose.

Firstly An accusation has to be made by the alleged aggrieved person and then an investigation has to take place , then & only then the decision to prosecution or not takes place.

Absolutely. He and Fergie (who I don't actually dislike) are free loaders who will use any situation that financially benefits them. I remember her Weight Watchers adverts on mainstream TV in the US when I lived there.

Andrew probably did engage in dodgy sex (hopefully not rape - but quite possibly with underage girls) facilitated by Epstein.

And yes, the Queen will cover for him. While HRH is a good queen, she will protect her family regardless. Look at Phillip, for gods sake. Still driving despite clearly not being fit. Old 'air miles' Andy will continue to benefit due to his royal status. He will never be held to account. BBC etc will always ignore it.

I'm not a monarchist and think they're a waste of money and space, but I'm also a realist. Nothing is going to happen. It'll just disappear.

It is not a criminal offence to spend time in the company of someone who has been in jail.

What is the point of the press reporting daily the allegations made by the woman ?

She says yes, he says no, that’s as far as it’s got, now it is up to her legal team to submit evidence.

Your right Anniebach it isn't an offence to spend time with someone who has been in jail - but is it wise to spend time with someone who has been in jail on those sort of charges?

Bearing in mind Andrew's position and high profile should he not have cut all ties with Epstein? He was, no doubt, advised to do so but appears to have chosen to ignore that advice, one has to ask oneself, why - what was in it for him.

He is himself the father of girls - why would he wish to continue an association with someone convicted of those charges?

As I said previously as there is unlikely to be any tangible evidence he had sex with the girl in question or, even if he did, knew her age, he will not face prosecution

Beckett there can be no excusing him from his choice of the company he keeps.

What’s in it for him ? It has been reported he had plans for a business venture in America and Epstein did pay off some of
Fergie’s debts. Epstein certainly mixed with people with influence

Would backing for a business venture warrant maintaining contact with someone convicted of such a crime? Before the conviction it could be argued that Andrew had no knowledge, but after Epstein had been in prison there is no excuse.

How could Andrew look at his daughters yet still associate with a man convicted of those crimes?

A possible explanation is not an excuse

What surprised me, and I'd be happy to be enlightened by people who know more than I - is that all members of the royal family used to have Special Branch teams who 'vetted' the people they associate with in order to avoid just such a scandal as this.

Royals are very much detatched from the normal world and have learned very false social skills, like actors learning a part, rather than learning, as we lesser mortals do, by associating with people and observing how they work.

It is easy in such circumstance to take people at face value and get into trouble, which is exactly why Special Branch (used to) see this as part of the Protection Protocol.

Doesn't this happen now?
Did Special Branch warn him and he ignored them?

He's 60 years old and moves in circles where there are many Epsteins. Cocaine, drink and procuring is rife.

They don't need to observe any social rules (being polite, thoughtful, moral) because money makes them immune from such trivia.

It's part of the normal lifestyle of the "rich and famous" and Prince Andrew has lived like this most of his adult life.

I feel deeply sorry for his mother, she is too old to take this lightly. He's disgraced her and his daughters.
He is, unfortunately, 'a dirty old man'.

And yes, I AM being judgemental.

Here's an interesting Guardian article.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/19/billionaires-wealth-richest-income-inequality

Thanks Bradfordlass, a very interesting piece & opinion, but
It also has be to do with one’s own personality otherwise all of the Queens children would be behave the same way, which clearly they don’t.