Why is it all about Prince Andrew?

[Watchmuch]

He should absolutely get what's coming to him but we know (don't we?) that numerous other rich and powerful men did the same. Why are we hearing nothing of them?

We do? Peter Mandleson lost his job over this very recently. It smarts a bit more when a perpetrator gets to keep living in a 30 bedroom house for free and we are obliged to bow before them.

So strange I clicked on this: literally just made the same point on another thread.

I agree, FWIW.

I was just saying this to DH last night, why is it all Andrew? I suspect its because the other men are maybe cleverer, and able to deflect the press away from their involvement in it all. They are also probably richer and able to use expensive lawyers to keep things quiet. They are also all probably keeping Andrew in news, and subtly encouraging it, as it keeps people from looking their direction.

America is protecting rich and powerful americans.
It is disgusting but predictable.
They probably all have dirt on each other so whether whichever side of the political divide they are on trump can’t out them and it goes without saying that self interest takes priority over honesty and integrity with him.
Let alone justice for girls and women

Because he has hoovered up so much public money
because he has paraded in front of public so much his entire life as if he is on some higher plane than the rest of us
because he went on TV and lied and victim blamed
because he is still taking up too much public funding

that is why it’s all about Andrew

👆

Not for free… he effectively paid a very large lump sum up front for the lease. I read it works out at about £190k a year.

Why have the police not charged Andrew and had him in court? If he is guilty he should move from his mansion to a jail cell.

Because he's arrogant, the UK press don't like him and he's an easy target. Maybe the other men have better legal teams.

Just started reading Virginia Giuffre's book and it's both sad and horrifying.

It’s all about Andrew because he is part of the royal family. They are part of national pride, and what makes us a Kingdom. It’s very upsetting to see what’s evidently protection from scrutiny and justice by the very family we celebrate and put on a pedestal so rightfully so the British public will feel disgruntled about that. Agreed that all those involved should be brought to justice, but this is a bigger scandal than any random investment banker or other influential person we have no wider ties to. This is the very family we sing the national anthem about, the people that feature on our currency, people we include in our holiday traditions like listening to the Queen’s / King’s speech at Christmas.

We do - in fact there is far more discussion of Trump's involvement with Epstein. It's only the British media that are focussing on Prince Andrew.

Because according to UK laws he hasn’t done snything provable that breaks them. Virginia Giuffre was over the UK age of consent. (Obviously morally a different story but that wasn’t what you asked)

Because he is the name released.
The secret "Epstein Files" may or may not have other famous names on but until that list (if it actually exists) is released....we will never know.

Because, despite being a member of the royal family, he is probably the person with the least power in the Epstein files. Those with real power are pushing him front and centre to distract from the fact that the vast majority of those who were complicit have not been named. Even the book only names Andrew which indicates there are some extremely powerful people exerting pressure behind the scenes.

While what he did would be a criminal offence now, it was not in 2001 when it took place. The applicable legislation is s.47 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Paying for sexual services of a child.)

He has been loathed in the UK for years because he is an arrogant, self promoting idiot and we love people getting their comeuppance here.

He went on TV and showed everyone the reality of the phrase "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"

His behaviour at the Duchess of Kent's funeral tells you everything you need to know about him.

And tbh, I am sure most people would love the other pedo enablers to get their comeuppance too, but there has been no proof of who they are on the whole. There has with him.

I wonder if Sky Wells is ever going to be investigated. Very arguably the things that VG said he did to her were very much very far worse than what PA was accused of. And the actions by family friend Forrest. VG also said her husband beat her up and there doesn't seem to have been a prosecution for that.

I agree, I think other powerful men are hiding and the publishers don't want to name them for fear of being sued.

I'm fed up about hearing about Andrew, In no way of excusing his behaviour which is abhorrent, but he hasn't been prosecuted, he's not using his titles, parliament clearly won't officially strip him of them as that's not want the king wants.
The King does want him out of royal lodge is that why there is so much media coverage of that??
But like the King, Andrew was born into privilege and royalty, he is abiding by the terms of his lease, he was probably left a considerable inheritance by his parents and grandmother, which of course is shrouded in secrecy, no inheritance tax due and no probate/ Royal wills made public so like all royal money it's shrouded in secrecy and not at all transparent.
Margaret Hodge was on radio 4 this morning making a very good point about how royal family are not liable for inheritance tax, capital gains tax and neither of their major sources of income-duchy of Cornwall and Lancaster - are taxed and nothing is in public domain. This needs changing

Because he is
Known
Named
and a very good distraction for the rest as he is very unlikely to suffer any sort of real come back.

This!
They have so many perks and still behave like entitled idiots.

I'm not sure Margaret Hodge, the person who ignored child abuse victims whilst leading Islington Council and libelled one of the victims, is the best person to comment. In any case, she needs to check her facts. Some of what she said is wrong.

Andrew paid £1M for a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge and was required to spend £7.5 million on refurbishments. This means he has effectively paid £113,333 rent per year, although if we were doing a proper conversion to an annual rent the figure would be somewhat higher due to the fact he has paid up front. He may have paid below the market rate for the property, but he is definitely not living rent free.

Queen Elizabeth's estate was not subject to IHT, but Andrew's will be. Her estate did go through probate, but royal wills are sealed, usually for 90 years. Contrary to what many people think, royal wills are not the only ones sealed. It doesn't happen very often, but a judge can seal any will if they deem it undesirable or inappropriate for it to become public, e.g. to protect personal safety or sensitive information. We don't know whether Andrews will is going to be sealed.

Andrew does not receive any income from the Duchy of Lancaster or the Duchy of Cornwall. Those who do (Charles and William respectively) voluntarily pay tax on their income. The accounts of both Duchies are in the public domain.

The only public money Andrew receives is his Armed Forces pension.

Oh I think we will.

If the only public money Andrew receives is his armed forces pension where did the money come from to pay Epstein? And for Royal Lodge lease upfront?

When he was a working royal he did receive some public money. However, that stopped in 2019. He receives money from investments and business connections. There is also reason to believe that some supporters have given him money. He may also have received money from his mother, of course. However, I am not aware that he paid anything to Epstein.

@prh47bridge
I didn't know about Margaret Hodge/ Islington Council cover up.
Obviously thats completely unacceptable.

I think her point was more to do with the secrecy around royal accounts.
I did mean the Queens and Prince Philips wills aren't public, MH said they weren't liable to IHT.
If the accounts are closed there is no public scrutiny.
My point is Andrew has probably inherited significant money/assets which will help fund him.
MH mentioned that Businesses within the Duchys of Cornwall and Lancaster don't pay tax, so maybe RF pay some tax but not on everything?
Again the accounts probably aren't open to public scrutiny in the same way other business account are at companies house. Andrew clearly doesn't benefit from ducy of Cornwall or Lancaster estates, the king and prince William now do.
So his brother has enormous wealth and assets but being a younger child he doesn't. Not going to make for harmonious family relationship, also see wills and harry..
Younger members of the RF may make unwise alliances and business decisions to keep up the lifestyle they had since birth.
I just feel all royal accounts should be subject to tax in the same way as the rest of us and there should be transparency.
Prince Andrew was no doubt given substantial money by his mum and she may well have got it from tax payers or from tax avoidance.
Prince Edward and Princess Anne may alsohave similar housing arrangements to Prince Andrew and my impressions is their main residences are similar size to his.

But back to point of the thread who are the other famous and more powerful (than Andrew) men whose names haven't been punished and are not under scrutiny??
Clearly those in the know are too scared to name them.
Maybe they are funding Andrew as the fall guy?!
They are all dispictable and immoral.
I hope the truth come out ( and RF pay tax like the rest of us and have open accounts) but not holding up much hope on either count