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?

I agree, I want to hear about all of them. Not the least Trump.

At the time it wasn't, which is what matters. The law has changed but, even now, it isn't automatically illegal. There is a presumption that the trafficked person does not consent, but it is a rebuttable presumption, which means the accused will be found not guilty if there is evidence that she did consent or that he reasonably believed that she did.

Another change in the law is that it is now an offence to pay for sex with someone who is trafficked or with someone under the age of 18. However, it is not clear that Andrew paid and, even if he did, this was not an offence at the time.

@prh47bridge thank you, that’s interesting. It’s so easy to get it wrong based on listening to those who shout the loudest.

Personally, I think he should be held to account but the question is how can he be? Is the only method public condemnation and loss of prestige, titles and favours? Or is it, facilitating him being questioned in the States? Why does that seem to be off the table? The media appears to want him removed from the lodge but no one is pushing him to aid law enforcement investigations?

So many reasons right here why we need to stop putting this sub par family on a pedestal 🤬

VG is the only person who made allegations against Andrew, and she always refused to co-operate with law enforcement. That, coupled with the fact that her account is disputed by some of Epstein's other victims and, even if accurate, does not show that Andrew committed any offences under the law as it stood at the time, undermines any attempt by law enforcement to investigate him.

Interesting point made on the latest TRIP: the only people associated with the affair to have experienced a fall from grace, or indeed real justice, are British: Ghislaine Maxwell, Prince Andrew, Peter Mandelson.

None of the powerful American men implicated have faced any form of justice, or even the most minor fall from grace. In fact it seems to have affected them not a jot. It does seem that as long as you have money in the US you can act with absolute impunity. And of course now one of those men is mooting pardoning Maxwell, no doubt in return for her eternal silence, her partner in crime having already handily silenced himself.

Because the protection officers are not in the bedroom with him. If he’s on an “ estate” with security they may not be in the same building.

As for the request for intelligence. The name of the officer that I have seen was not his personal protection but a senior officer who oversaw the department. ( and trust me when PA had issues with anything his complaints would go in at a senior level ) Whether he actually ran any checks is unclear to me but would be recorded on the intelligence system. Intelligence checks are undertaken pretty frequently around individuals who have access to the Royal family ( or who turn up at palaces claiming to be related ) as a standard part of the protection process - there is a lawful reason for them to be done. Whether there was a lawful reason for this check to be done will depend on what the officer was told at the time the intelligence was requested. It would be pretty easy to say that this woman is fixated with me and is stalking me etc etc. The officer may have then felt there was legitimate reason for conducting a check. There would be rules about what was shared back ( Im discussing domestic checks only though -international enquiries are a different matter. ) Is there in fact any information to say that the officer did a check and shared information or just that a check was requested?

Totally agree. The royal family have gradually been trying to bring him and Ferguson back on the scene. They have obviously been covering up for him otherwise the files from when he was trade envoy wouldn’t be under lock and key. Police were asked to dig dirt on the victim (surely the palace knew about this) . Where did the £12 million come from ? When people hold themselves up and look down on mere ‘subjects’ and cost the taxpayers money, they should come under scrutiny.

This.

The press are reporting that the Slug and his Cling On are insisting on having two Royal houses provided for them if they are going to agree to leave RL. Not sure if that’s true but if so it’s more greed. Apparently Fergie thinks she’s entitled to a free house.

@Imaginethatifyoucan
Yes - he goes to Frogmore and she goes to Adelaide Cottage.

There is speculation this is one of several options for A and F, and that the palace is trying to gauge public reaction. It's a shocking idea. Frogmore Cottage was last inhabited by three people. Adelaide Cottage is inhabited by five. So A and F, two people, think they are entitled to a space each. Sandringham or Balmoral get my vote as they're privately owned.

It's high time KCIII said to his brother: 'You are totally disgraced and have brought the monarchy into disrepute. You are not in a position to state your preferences. This is what's going to happen: you're going to Wood Farm. It was good enough for our father. Fergie will be sorting herself out. She had a house. She sold It. Tough. The removal van is outside, facing Norfolk.'

Think he lacks the guts.

Sadly, I agree.

I agree. PA deserves all that his happening to him. His moral choices were poor. Legally there is lack of clarity regarding age of consent etc.

However, I read a published extract from Virginia Guiffre’s book which says ‘Epstein and Maxwell began lending me out to their friends’ .

She goes on to say that one set of friends were a married couple (she called him ‘Billionaire Number One’) They were staying at The Breakers, an exclusive Palm Beach hotel.

Just who is ‘Billionaire Number One’. Have he and his wife been held to account? If not, why not?

Totally agree op

Think he is being used as a scape goat.

He deserves justice but where is the justice for other involved?

Coincidence much how he is constantly splashed all over mainstream media, and has been for years now regarding the whole awful business?

He's dense and very well known, and naturally not a likeable person. A very convenient scapegoat indeed.

Sadly, in some cases they were. Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and his 13 year old girlfriend Mandy Smith ( he married her when she was 18) springs to mind.

There is no lack of clarity regarding age of consent. The age of consent was 16 in all of the places where VG claimed to have had sex with him.

Regarding why "Billionaire Number One" and others have not been held to account, remember that VG refused to talk to law enforcement and her various court cases in the USA suggest she may not have been an entirely reliable witness. Note that I am not saying she made everything up, but there was sufficient doubt about some of the claims she made to mean a prosecutor wouldn't want to rely on her as the sole witness.

This is a Distraction from :
peter Mandelson being withdrawn as US ambassador over the summer which should have been discussed in parliament since they returned but hasn’t happened.
+
the Chinese spy case collapse

charged him with what ?

But how does Charles make Andrew do this? If he offers him an allowance then he will be criticised for funding him, as he was before. It is hard to make any adult (or child come to that) do what you want them to do if they don't want to.

I'm rewatching A Very Royal Scandal. I do wonder what would have been done if it wasn't a Jubilee year. Would he have paid the money or insisted on fighting the case?

@mummymissessunshine
I agree with the Chinese spy case - Andrew is very much implicated in that.

Wood Farm would be a far more suitable solution, it would keep them well away from Windsor and away from William and Kate. They could do their shopping in King's Lynn and go paddling up om the coast! Hope I never see them though.

Why does she expect the family of the man she cheated on and was divorced from over 20 years ago to provide her with a house? Why was her £4m house in London sold so soon after its purchase if not to make her appear homeless without Royal Lodge?