Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was recently seen leaving the Windsor estate, looking visibly upset following the release of court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. A photograph captured by the Mirror shows the 63-year-old royal driving away from his residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor, his expression reflecting the weight of the recent revelations.
The unsealed documents, part of a 2015 libel suit against Ghislaine Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, brought renewed scrutiny to the prince's alleged connections to Epstein. Containing over 1,000 pages of depositions and statements, the documents mention Prince Andrew 67 times, notably in allegations of his sexual involvement with a minor, including a purported sex tape.
Giuffre, in these documents, claimed she was compelled by Epstein to engage in sexual activities with Prince Andrew on three occasions. The Duke of York has consistently denied these allegations, emphasizing his past association with Epstein but refuting any sexual misconduct. His 2019 interview with BBC's Emily Maitlis notably addressed these issues, with the prince denying any sexual relations with Giuffre or any other women linked to Epstein.
Some of the peasants thought it was a “lovely moment” to see & shake the hand of pedo #PrinceAndrew during Christmas at Sandringham. His response:pic.twitter.com/xjXGa7oWht — Nelly (@ValleyGirl629) January 7, 2024
The fallout from these accusations led to a legal settlement with Giuffre in February 2022, avoiding a trial. This decision followed Queen Elizabeth's move in January 2022 to strip Prince Andrew of his royal patronages and military titles amidst the controversy.
Sources close to the prince depict him as overwhelmed and isolated, struggling to cope with the consequences of the document release. "He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with this. He has locked himself away in a room and has no idea how to respond. He's devastated," one insider revealed.
The settlement, while not an admission of guilt, was criticized by Epstein's former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, who regarded it as a significant error. Dershowitz suggested that Prince Andrew might have prevailed in court had he chosen to contest the allegations.
"I think he made a terrible mistake. I suspect he was pressured by his mother to make that mistake. If he had fought that case, I believe he would have won, I believe the case would have been dismissed on a variety of grounds," Dershowitz stated.
The royal's legal woes have taken a personal toll, evident in his recent public appearances. His interaction with the public during the royal family's Christmas Walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham was notably awkward. Confronted with a group recording him, Prince Andrew expressed his discomfort, asking, "Why video?" His attempt to engage the well-wishers in understanding the pressure of being constantly observed highlighted the prince's strained relationship with the public eye.
