Andrew Lownie just said "We have to remember the royal family fought for a long time to protect Andrew and in fact tried to prevent investigations into him" on BBC news

[JacknDiane]

I think that's really revealing. Rather than the king being strong and dealing with this, he has done everything in his power to cover it up.

I'd like to hear what others, especially supporters of the monarchy, think of this.

The discussion about removing him from the line of succession to me just highlights how ridiculous a monarchy is in this day and age. They have their power due to accident of birth. They have been born into a family that believes it has a divine right to rule. If you start chopping and changing because somebody is unsuitable then it isn’t a hereditary monarchy. And if it isn’t a hereditary monarchy then why can’t somebody else have a crack at it.

Again, what exactly do you think Charles can do to anyone else who has been accused? What do you think the royal family can actually do about that?

The Epstein case was an FBI case, in America. It isn’t in the UK. The files also have not been released. No one can look into anything.

Charles can take stuff away from his brother. The British press will talk a lot about Andrew because he is such an odious figure within the royal family. What do you think Charles can do about the rest of the Epstein files? Or the press for that matter, while the files have not been released.

The late Queen paid off the court case but it had to be agreed. She couldn't stop a case if it had gone ahead

But she did, @MrsLeonFarrell - remember Paul Burrell and the incredible story of her asking what was going on when driving past the Old Bailey, then suddenly "remembering a conversation" which halted the trial and kept him from giving evidence?

And this despite the case being all over the papers in the preceding week ... papers which we're told the Queen was always interested in reading?

That was an odd one. I can't see the late Queen committing perjury so I wonder what was happening behind the scenes for her to need to step in. She only stopped the case in the sense that the case was apparently brought under a misaprehension and she corrected it. Can't any of us do the same?

Wonder if he'll spill all the beans, now he has nothing to lose ?

I'm getting the word...NONCE

So Chrimbo is coming soon and the pap walk will be interesting. I think I'd be mortified parading up the church path to the noise of adoring fans, while down the road and in people's houses howls of derision can be heard. I wonder if the King's speech has already been recorded, it might need a revision now with sorrowful tales of another Annus Horribilis of illness, estrangement, swift house moves, hidden brothers, wayward ex DILs and a fabulous homage to "The ties of family" with a big pic of H,M and kids on the piano.

Then there's the next gambit. Oyez, Oyez, Harry and Meghan and the kids will be returning for a close family visit at Christmas, OMG, the frenzy and the heat is immediately off the A situ. It can be cancelled a day before due to Covid inf or something, but the online battles about it will not feature A +S at all. Perfect there son! And before that a full on fluff piece about W+K new house, kids frolicking on Grandad's rocking horse in the cosy drawing room (too cold outside you see), with a backdrop of leafless trees and winter landscape offset by a roaring fire. You get the picture. Deflect, deflect, deflect. Positive spins incoming.

But maybe they'll all keep their heads down and do and say nothing. Never complain, never explain.

He's not spilling any beans, he knows what side his breads buttered

How erudite.

No need to think, or engage the lonely brain cell. Just dumb things down to this dreary level and shout abusive epithets.

Don't think he was that well liked generally, even before all these revelations came to light.

Andrew is more than welcome to tell all he knows about Epstein and Maxwell’s other friends, clients and ‘marks’; and Harry is welcome to tell all he knows about Andrew, Sarah and the York set-up.

The silence is uncomfortable.

What crime has he committed? I am sure he did have sex with Virginia Giuffre just like she said and it was a disgraceful, immoral thing to do. However, it was not illegal to have sex with a trafficked 17 year old at that time so what he did was not illegal.

It was if he was conspiring. IMO Andrew needs investigating for his potential involvement in sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in such activities in various countries, including Thailand, the UK and the US over many decades.

And the Chinese spy issues.

At the time it was not an offence to have sex with a trafficked woman. It is now, but it was not then.

I read on Twitter (X) which is obvs very reliable…NOT that King C 111 wouldn’t sign off on the 12M his mum was paying VG until she (The Queen) was prepared to announce that she wanted Camilla to become Queen/Queen consort when she passed away. Interesting

Until something else comes to light I’m not sure there are any criminal charges to answer for - at the time when Andrew had sex with Virginia Giuffre it was not illegal to have sex with a trafficked 17 year old. It was not illegal to have sex with a 17 year old prostitute either so I’m not sure what charge could be brought.

The law changed - rightly so, but it was not a crime at the time.

Tbf I rather think in later life the Queen had become rather senile I doubt she had her full faculties no doubt Charles was making some decisions as William is now

He may do. But since he’s a serial liar, how will we differentiate between the truth and the gaslighting?

What are you talking about?! Of course it’s illegal, for a start, if this was at JE’s island it comes under the US Virgin Islands laws … 18 is the legal age. Also he paid her money, apparently according to her book someone mentioned up thread - also illegal to pay for sex. She was also trafficked, so was under duress so he raped her!!
thats 3 counts in my head

I thought her allegations were about something that happened in London?

Paying for sex is not illegal.

Ok, so maybe he has not committed a crime (to be debated) but his behaviour is not the standard expected by the member of the UK royal family. Whilst they have all had their affairs etc, having sex with teen girls, facilitated and organised by convicted sex offenders, orgies and hiring of prostitutes (probably using public money), and reputation as a sex pest is not deemed acceptable and crossing the line.

He is not in prison. He will have a very comfy house in a very nice estate but as a normal person where he can have all the women he wants as a member of the public and keep a low profile. He has essentially been fired from the royal family and all it stands for. Bearing in mind two of the working royal family members are trying to continue on whilst having cancer treatment I can see how Andrew and his mid life crisis antics have come to this conclusion.

In the UK at that time it was not illegal to have sex with a 17 year old trafficked woman (or a 17 year old prostitute). Maybe in the US he could be charged, but not here.

I agree with you.