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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The knives are out for the royal family

999 replies

justasking111 · 19/08/2019 14:26

It may be deserved in some cases, however it would seem the gloves are off as far as the media are concerned. They have lived high on the hog for centuries so what is new?

Am scratching my head here is it shoot the royal family season or a smoke and mirrors exercise designed to distract us from something more important??

I would hate to be in the PR business with the RF just now.

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ssd · 20/08/2019 22:06

Yes, Ghislane always seems to be in the background, smiling and encouraging.
It's beyond creepy.

GlitchStitch · 20/08/2019 22:12

That looks to me as a "consensual" photo.

What does 'consensual' look like when it comes to someone who has been trafficked?

GlitchStitch · 20/08/2019 22:16

And yes UK law says it's a strict liability offence so whether or not you know the woman or girl is trafficked is irrelevant. Not sure about the timescale though and when these alleged events occurred. Either way that picture is sickening and PA is repulsive. If the Queen continues to ignore this and pose for grinning photos with him like in the car last week she will rapidly lose the goodwill she has long held too.

ssd · 20/08/2019 22:19

I agree. Most people, even when disliking the RF, admire and respect the Queen. But her tolerance of Andrew and his dodgy pals will end up making her look stupid. And that hadn't happened before.

Gobbolinocat · 20/08/2019 22:22

She's the kids prison warder, her controller.

How on this earth did Andrew not think it strange... What was ghislane possibly saying? This is mine and epstein young friend and she likes her you?

How bizzare, wouldn't he chat, where did you meet them, find it odd? Every single photo I've seen ghislane is right bloody there.

Gobbolinocat · 20/08/2019 22:23

He took them to the heart of Royal family, to serval palaces!

All giving this monster credibility.

ssd · 20/08/2019 22:26

What monster?

There's more than one.

Ibiza2015 · 20/08/2019 22:41

How can Andrew possibly say he didn't know epstein had been convicted as a sex offender?

The RF have staff to inform them at every turn, about the charities they support and visit, about people they are introduced to etc etc

Their advisors can only go so far though.

Jimmy Savile had Diana, Charles, Fergie and Andrew dancing on his knifepoint. Diana was even recorded on the Squidgygate tape discussing how Savile had called her to reassure her she was his ‘top girl’ even if he spoke to ‘the red head’ sometimes.

And Laurens Van Der Post who was William’s godfather turned out to be a complete charlatan

Wildorchidz · 20/08/2019 23:09

Don’t forget disgraced bishop Peter Ball with whom Charles was friendly

Winterlife · 20/08/2019 23:09

It’s not about the age of consent, it’s about the trafficking

Yes, but at the time, in North America there was no legislation on having sex with trafficked victims. In the UK at the time, only the trafficker could be charged, and then, only if there was one other corroborating witness.

That is why I say, morally, Andrew's actions are reprehensible. Legally, if this is the only victim, what he did wasn't illegal, unless he knew VG was a prostitute.

SheStoopsToConker · 20/08/2019 23:14

How can Andrew possibly say he didn't know epstein had been convicted as a sex offender?

He was friends with Epstein before he was convicted, wasn't he? But they were also pictured together after Epstein was released from jail so it's clearly a lie to say he didn't know. If one of your mates was in prison then surely you'd learn of it? Or would have questions for them you met them again after ages?

Winterlife · 20/08/2019 23:14

How can anyone say its consensual!

I never posted it was consensual. What I posted was, if I saw that particular photo with no other context, I would assume it was consensual. She is snuggling into him.

Winterlife · 20/08/2019 23:17

How can Andrew possibly say he didn't know epstein had been convicted as a sex offender?

He can't. There was a story yesterday quoting one of his friends, who had told him to drop Epstein once he'd been convicted. Andrew refused, saying he was a "loyal" friend, and accusing the friend who suggested he drop Epstein of being a prude.

Winterlife · 20/08/2019 23:19

And yes UK law says it's a strict liability offence so whether or not you know the woman or girl is trafficked is irrelevant.

That's the law now. It wasn't when the offences occurred.

TheCraicDealer · 20/08/2019 23:22

It's not fair to compare the PA/Epstein thing to M&H, but I do think they should take this as a warning as to where accepting freebies and generous gifts can ultimately lead. People might defend them for luxuries such as George Clooney lending Meghan his jet to attend her expensive baby shower, which was funded (apparently) by Serena Williams on the basis that they were favours from friends. Or taking Elton John's private plane somewhere or another. But one day you accept a favour too many from the wrong person, who asks you for something in return. And you might not want to upset that person, or you could be a bit too dim to see what the consequences of even seemingly innocuous string pulling might be in the long term. Friendships and favours between ridiculously wealthy celebrities or multimillionaires and the royals always seem a bit uneven, and the gestures one-way- what can M&H offer someone like George Clooney (who apparently has political ambitions) other than influence, connections and exposure? And to provide those in return for personal favours is an abuse of their position. If I were them I would never want to be in a position where someone could accuse me of being bought.

Maybe I'm being OTT and they are just all lovely generous people who expect nothing but a "thank you", but the insanely ambitious and successful normally do things for a reason.

Winterlife · 20/08/2019 23:24

why the hell is ghislane always there it's creepy and sinister.

There was a gossip blog called CrazyDaysDaysandNights that exposed this six or seven years ago. No mention of Epstein, but lots about Maxwell. According to things posted on the site, she was alleged to have books of young "starlets" who were traded. The owner of the site was an LA based entertainment lawyer. Since that time, he sold the blog. It's still active, but now mostly rumour. The stories posted at that time were chilling.

LaurieMarlow · 20/08/2019 23:36

But one day you accept a favour too many from the wrong person

It’s not specific to H&M though, they’re all at it. Always have been.

Passthecherrycoke · 20/08/2019 23:42

I think it’s likely though that there is more to come out - both more women and more occasions back then involving PA, and I think there is a fair chance that he could’ve been doing this in 2003. VG alleges occasions in late 2001- not a million miles away (iirc 2003 is when the trafficking law was introduced?)

Although, to be honest I don’t know why I’m even thinking about the legal aspect. He’ll never be charged with anything

Hithere12 · 20/08/2019 23:43

People might defend them for luxuries such as George Clooney lending Meghan his jet to attend her expensive baby shower, which was funded (apparently) by Serena Williams on the basis that they were favours from friends. Or taking Elton John's private plane somewhere or another

Just reading all that is so gross. She’s meant to be a royal family member and she’s a complete embarrassment behaving like a wannabe celeb. Can you even imagine Kate behaving this way, using her royal status to befriend movie stars like George Clooney.

She’s living her dream of being a world famous celebrity & cares about furthering herself, not about the monarchy, despite being taxpayer funded.

justasking111 · 20/08/2019 23:44

Craic you are so right H and M love Soho House, owned by Ron Burkle who has flown on Epsteins lolita plane. As a royal family member you need your wits about you.

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LaurieMarlow · 20/08/2019 23:50

Can you even imagine Kate behaving this way, using her royal status to befriend movie stars like George Clooney.

Erm, Kate and Wills are quite tight with the Beckhams and Roger Federer.

Apparently Kate’s mates with Reese Witherspoon too (didn’t know that until recently).

How is this seen as a new thing. The royals have always done it.

Linseedlill · 20/08/2019 23:55

The only way the RF can justify their life of privilege in this day and age is to be of use to charities and to live a life of service. That should be their main focus without lots of frippery. If some of the younger members (and PA) haven't got the hang of that basic fact yet then they may as well give up now and stop pretending.

TheCraicDealer · 20/08/2019 23:57

Yeah they are all at it, H&M have been "unlucky" in the level of attention they've got for it. Will and Kate in particular seem to spend a lot of holidays at villas owned by friends, albeit less high profile ones than Harry and Meghan's. But they should all be taking a look at how this is panning out with Andrew and Epstein and the latter paying off Fergie's debts and ask how it got to the stage where they thought that was acceptable.

Hithere12 · 20/08/2019 23:59

Erm, Kate and Wills are quite tight with the Beckhams and Roger Federer

Apparently Kate’s mates with Reese Witherspoon too (didn’t know that until recently)

She’s not swanning around on their private Jets, having them pay for her £250,000 baby shower with a fleet of paparazzi outside the posh hotel they’re having it in. Did Kate even have baby showers? No one knows because she’s discreet and not attention seeking. The whole thing is so tacky.

MoaningMinnie1 · 21/08/2019 00:34

Winterlife
How can Andrew possibly say he didn't know epstein had been convicted as a sex offender?

He can't. There was a story yesterday quoting one of his friends, who had told him to drop Epstein once he'd been convicted. Andrew refused, saying he was a "loyal" friend, and accusing the friend who suggested he drop Epstein of being a prude.
...........
That doesn't surprise me at all. It's difficult to see people you like and are friendly with objectively. I doubt very much that Epstein let Prince Andrew know precisely what he was up to and now it's all out in the open there will be plenty of other people, with lower profiles, who are shocked and disillusioned by the whole thing.

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