Prince Andrew has bolted to Balmoral

[Viviennemary]

This according to guess who. The DM of course. To avoid getting papers served says the article. Maybe he's just gone for a nice break. Accompanied by Fergie.

They aren't different in the sense that both are using their positions of privilege to duck accountability.

I think their cases are very different. And the Sacoolas woman has admitted culpability. But agree with both trying to wriggle out of facing consequences. And not being treated like ordinary Joe Bloggs.

@Plumtree391

I've googled Anne Sacoolas. I knew about the case, just didn't mentally note her name.

I don''t see how either our law enforcement people or those of the USA could swap her for Prince Andrew. The cases are entirely different.

I don't think it was a serious suggestion, rather an 'if only'.

You're right, I probably took it too seriously.

This thread is about Andrew going back up to Balmoral and the Mail speculating about his motives. If there was less focus on the horrible Epstein case we'd not even notice if and when the Queen's relatives go to stay with her in Balmoral. It could have been a long standing arrangement. He and ex wife don't have young children at school/home any more, they're free to go where they please.

The Queen has made absolutely no comment at all about any of this, as far as I remember. There is endless speculation about what she feels, says in private, does, etc. We just don't know.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

They aren't different in the sense that both are using their positions of privilege to duck accountability.

She is, there is no doubt about here involvement in the traffic accident which had such tragic results. I expect she's terrified but, in time, may come back to face the music. Who knows? However she would be accused, tried and prosecuted.

Andrew isn't facing any prosecution as far as I know. He denies knowing the young woman who accuses him and the only proof she has is a photograph taken of him and her together twenty years or so ago. He doesn't remember the occasion but has probably had snapshots taken of him with all sorts of people in the past and can't remember them all.

He had a long standing friendship with Ghislane Maxwell and, through her, became on friendly terms with Jeffrey Epstein, who was an extremely useful business contact.

I imagine that is what he would tell the FBI and may do so when he's ready; that surely depends on advice from his legal team. They are probably telling him to keep quiet for now after the way his TV interview was received.

When Ghislane Maxwell's trial happens in November, we will undoubtedly find out at least some of the truth.

Epstein had loads of 'friends' all over the world in every field, many have been interviewed and been quite gobsmacked over the revelations. People like Epstein have secrets and generally don't make close friends; Ghislane was the exception, she was a close friend for a while.

I don't want to think the worst of anybody except Jeffrey Epstein against whom there is firm evidence.

'her' not 'here', first sentence.

I'd think better of PA if he hadn't visited/remained on good terms with Epstein after it became clear what he had been guilty of. People are judged by the company they keep.

@Plumtree391

'Allegedly' to avoid having papers served on him. There could be all sorts of reasons why he has gone to Scotland.

Anyway who cares?

His mum does. She'll be needing some new monogrammed aprons soon with all the string-tugging the precious boy does.

What's to stop them serving him in Scotland? Is there no extradition treaty or does the Daily Mail think the USA can't afford a hire car?

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

I'd think better of PA if he hadn't visited/remained on good terms with Epstein after it became clear what he had been guilty of. People are judged by the company they keep.

Yes, so do I. I bet he does now too. However it seems that most of Epstein's contacts kept him in with him after his conviction, didn't believe it was valid; he took a plea and was allowed out all day, it was hardly much of a sentence.

I've asked myself if I was friendly with somebody who had always been good to me, and was 'more' friends with a very good friend of mine, would I believe what they told me? it's possible. I'm grateful not to have knowingly been in that position with anyone involved in a sex scandal, hope I never am.

Epstein-like characters are quite charismatic and plausible, they often dupe quite decent people.

I don't know the set up at Balmoral security wise. But its a big estate. How will they even find him or get past security.

Who cares? He's a criminal.

They won’t get onto the estate while the Queen or family are there. I am not far from there. Security is tight, and trespass would not be to,elated. They’d have to hope he left the estate to say, go to church, but it’s unlikely.
My take is he went back to Windsor to avoid Charles, Boris etc and now they have been and gone he’s scuttled back there.

@CattyMcNips

What's to stop them serving him in Scotland? Is there no extradition treaty or does the Daily Mail think the USA can't afford a hire car?

I thought the same. He can avoid papers or have them served, anywhere at all. However we don't know for certain that that is an issue.

@Plumtree391

You seem awfully keen to defend someone who was knowingly friends with a trafficker, and to discredit the testimony of one of his victims.

Legally (in the U.K.) Andrew can’t be arrested whilst he is in the queen’s presence or within the grounds of her home/s (royal palaces). So whilst being served papers is different to being arrested, Andrew lives in the grounds of Windsor Castle and holidays in his mother’s other properties when she is there. I think he is probably more likely to be worried about when the queen dies, as I can’t see Charles offering him the same level of protection.

Andrew isn't facing any prosecution as far as I know. He denies knowing the young woman who accuses him and the only proof she has is a photograph taken of him and her together twenty years or so ago. He doesn't remember the occasion but has probably had snapshots taken of him with all sorts of people in the past and can't remember them all

^

But the young woman remembers him?

Ye doth protest too much and all that

Charles would be ruthless with Andrew. I don't sense a lot of fraternal affection there. Gawd knows why Andrew is mamma's favourite, he seems lacking in any kind of charm.

@Susannahmoody

Andrew isn't facing any prosecution as far as I know. He denies knowing the young woman who accuses him and the only proof she has is a photograph taken of him and her together twenty years or so ago. He doesn't remember the occasion but has probably had snapshots taken of him with all sorts of people in the past and can't remember them all

^

But the young woman remembers him?

Ye doth protest too much and all that

There are a lot of people who would remember having met a prince or member of the Royal Family. However, the Royal Family will meet thousands of people every year.

Andrew isn't facing any prosecution as far as I know. He denies knowing the young woman who accuses him and the only proof she has is a photograph taken of him and her together twenty years or so ago. He doesn't remember the occasion but has probably had snapshots taken of him with all sorts of people in the past and can't remember them all.

He does however seem to have a particularly clear memory of eating in a Pizza Express years ago. As for 'the only proof' well, I'd say a photo is bloody good evidence really.

@Susannahmoody aye keep telling yourself that.

@CattyMcNips

What's to stop them serving him in Scotland? Is there no extradition treaty or does the Daily Mail think the USA can't afford a hire car?

My understanding of the law of most US States is that to validly serve someone you have to hand them the papers in person. Posting it to them, or sending it to their lawyers won’t do. So they’d need to actually find him on the Blamoral Estate, and then get close enough to him to hand over the papers. Obviously, that won’t be a simple matter in a secure location.

Also, this is a civil matter, not criminal, so extradition is entirely irrelevant. He is not, as other have said, subject to any criminal proceedings whether here or in the US. He’’s not even been declared a suspect by the FBI.

Genuinely don’t read the papers so know very little about this - are there papers actually waiting to be served? How do we know this?

Is he giving his legal team more time to pull together a defence for him?

Yes, QueenFreesia, Virginia Guiffre/Roberts filed a civil suit against Andrew in the State of New York a couple of months ago (and issued a press release at the same time she filed it). She is seeking unspecified, but extensive damages from him for sexuallly assaulting her on 3 alleged occasions.

As Andrew does not live in the State of New York, nor even in the US this makes it international litigation, which is considerably more complex than a case between two parties in the same jurisdiction. To put it simply, you can’t just sue anyone you fancy anywhere you fancy, there are several hoops you have to jump through to be able to bring your claim. Being able to successfully serve someone with the papers is just of the initial ones (there are loads more - it may not even get to Andrew having to file a defence).

I imagine that is what he would tell the FBI and may do so when he's ready

This year, next year, some time, never?

The nation watched enthralled as he promised to answer questions with the relevant authorities.

He's stalled,obfuscated and now scuttled once again to the shelter of mummy's skirts where the nasty men can't get him.

When do you think he'll be ready to spill?