In a turn of events that has further embroiled the British royal family in controversy, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has reportedly secluded himself following the release of court documents that have reignited the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The duke, who has been a figure of contention since his association with the late convicted sex offender became public, is said to be "devastated" and without "the emotional bandwidth to deal with this."
The documents in question stem from a 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, brought forward by Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre has persistently accused Prince Andrew of abusing her when she was a teenager, claims that the prince has vehemently denied. Despite settling a claim with Ms. Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, the duke has not admitted any wrongdoing.
A source close to the duke told the media that he has "locked himself away in a room" as he grapples with how to respond to the newly released information. The documents, following a US court's order, revealed a search on Maxwell's electronic devices for terms including 'Prince', 'Andrew', and 'underage'. The findings have reportedly left the duke "reeling".
In a deposition, Maxwell contradicted Prince Andrew's account of how he met Epstein, stating, "I never introduced Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein at any time ever." This contradicts the Duke of York's 2019 statement to BBC's Emily Maitlis where he claimed he met Epstein "through his girlfriend [Maxwell] back in 1999."
The resurgence of these allegations and the duke's apparent retreat come amid broader royal family dynamics. While King Charles is believed to be contemplating his brother's future within the royal fold, out of a "duty to the late Queen", Prince William reportedly feels that Andrew should be permanently removed from royal duties. The future of the Duke of York's residency at the Royal Lodge, where he has lived since 2002, is also in question, with suggestions that he may need to fund his own security if he wishes to continue residing there.
As the royal family navigates this latest scandal, the public and media alike await further developments. With the duke now in seclusion and the monarchy's response under scrutiny, the saga of Prince Andrew and his connections to Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a shadow over the House of Windsor.
