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.

Thats if we believe he is still at Balmoral. He could easily have left by now.

Maybe he thinks there's another risk to being out and about? Or is he still keeping up the pretence that he hasn't been properly served?

I think he's probably just obliterating the wildlife, as his family do every year, in line with stated aim no. 3 of the Balmoral Estate.

"To work together with the owners to achieve a high standard of stewardship and land management for the benefit of present and future generations.
To adopt consistent policies for the conservation of the natural assets of the Estate.
To provide a place of retreat and enjoyment for The Queen, her family, and their guests."

He's been photographed there Vivienne

He’s clearly worried, why else would he stay and not visit his new grandchild?
I think he definitely believes Mummy will protect him.

Exactly.
Crisis talks I imagine

He probably fees he’s away from long lenses at Balmoral and can talk to advisors in privacy.

He’s being papped everyday

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

I think he's probably just obliterating the wildlife, as his family do every year, in line with stated aim no. 3 of the Balmoral Estate.

"To work together with the owners to achieve a high standard of stewardship and land management for the benefit of present and future generations.
To adopt consistent policies for the conservation of the natural assets of the Estate.
To provide a place of retreat and enjoyment for The Queen, her family, and their guests."

I think he's probably just obliterating the wildlife

A celebration of Mummy getting the tax bill slashed to below that of the local oik's pubs and restaurants?

Good point.

Private jets still have to fly flight plans right? So there will be evidence of when and where he visited?

He's conceded correct service of papers and requested and had agreed an extension to 29th October to answer.

Agog.

@Theunnamedcat. They do in theory, but I think in practice the Lolita Express managed to lose a few of those flight plans.

Nothing will stop them, except mass public outrage and pushback.

The switch in legal strategy by PA to now accept he's been served, to me, proves the reports he was upset over the old strategy were true & that likely means he wants to reclaim a public position.

All these legal manouvres contesting the papers had been served just made sure his story was kept in the Press!

He's going to fight this tooth and nail and the secret document VG signed in 2009 will not - apparently - save PA from this case.

This is all getting too complicated, weird and horrible for words. I even dreamed about it last night.

I don't know why the case could not have been conducted and reported on without naming anyone, plaintiffs or victims, just Person A or person B, until someone is found guilty. We could have the 'gory' details without being able to put faces on those involved. I certainly don't feel better for knowing who is who and I doubt anyone else does.

How anybody can go back to 'normal life', including Virginia Giuffre, after such exposure is beyond me. I'd die if people knew about things I did years ago, or I should say I would rather be dead than anyone find out had anything as unpleasant as this business happened to me when I was a teenager.

Most people feel the same way, I know this because I have been involved with some who have been exploited. They have generally been able to move on, with help, and improve their lives, because their names and faces were not recognisable. They wanted money as compensation and various other things, which they received, but did not attempt to become multi millionaires on the back of their misfortune.

The media is unscrupulous and frequently unbelievable, the general public seem to enjoy, even relish, scandal and are easily led.

There have been high profile cases in which some people's lives have almost been ruined because of the media. Christopher Jeffries successfully sued the press not that many years ago and who can blame him? The way he was treated was disgusting. When I think of how Milly Dowler's voicemail was hacked, giving her family the impression she was still alive for a while, I could cry.

I'm going to write some letters about this over the weekend, privately, and try to get others to do the same. Enough is enough.

The switch in legal strategy by PA to now accept he's been served, to me, proves the reports he was upset over the old strategy were true & that likely means he wants to reclaim a public position.

I think part of the problem is that there isn’t a clear distinction between public and private in the Royal family.

The Christmas Day pictures of the family attending church are as much a part of the brand as state visits and Remembrance Sunday. I am sure that only a small minority of people could tell you which countries the Royals have visited in a normal non Covid year, but would guess that most are aware of the Queen’s new great grand child.

People have argued that any lawyer would argue that his only goal should be to stay out of court, hence his legal strategy. However it’s difficult to see how the RF can avoid blowback if he is seen to be escaping justice on a technicality. Even his conspicuous non appearance at family occasions causes comment.

I think the other issue is that his defences - “How was I supposed to know that my close friend was a con man/paedophile/using me for political purposes” - are all a little close to home for Charles.

I think it's been said on this thread a few times that Virginia Giuffre is a campaigner, Plum. It's what she does.

I think women and girls can't win sometimes. Two recent judicial reviews in England ended with the judges' conclusions that the claimants should, in fact, sue for damages. Someone like Keira Bell could well sue for a £million. Is she then to be castigated for seeking high damages?

I actually hope Giuffre sets some precedents here, and that they worry the wealthy men involved who have often hidden behind money, the anonymity of super-injunctions, and lawyers.

I think the other issue is that his defences - “How was I supposed to know that my close friend was a con man/paedophile/using me for political purposes” - are all a little close to home for Charles

Spot on, merrymouse - but it works for them as long as the focus remains on Andrew and the attention doesn't "creep"

Okay so the VG case is a live issue and Charles's connection with various paedophiles isn't, but it always amazes me that so few comment on these - and from our future monarch at that

Why do these women have to hide and hand their heads in shame anonymously Plum

You keep saying this and I don't know why.

They want to highlight sex trafficking and what happened to them to maybe, just maybe, save some other young vulnerable girl

Should they be embarrassed of what they've done, is that what you're saying

I want them to shout it from the rooftops. Well done them.

I was taken advantage of when I was 15. I'm not ashamed to post that. I have daughters, I wasn't embarrassed or ashamed to talk about that with them either.

Quite @Roussette

These women have done nothing to be ashamed of. Andrew on the other hand...

Abusers have been hiding behind privacy for years. Good on these women for coming out, they did not do anything wrong.

That might be how you feel @Plumtree391 , but VG has chosen to go public abs I for one admire her for doing so. She has done nothing to be ashamed of and has highlighted a number of issues that have been ignored for decades. PA is guilty by association, he knew that JE was a convicted peadophile and still chose to maintain a friendship with him.

I don't think any of the women have done anything of which they need to be ashamed but generally people who have been abused prefer to talk about it in a confidential setting, and with some trusted family members. It's important to talk and find out what can be done to help but having your name and face splashed over the media is not comfortable. I'd be happy to speak about it, and have, but I wouldn't want, for example, my neighbours or colleagues to know. In my experience that is how most people feel, it isn't about being ashamed, it's about being private.

In this country, if someone is raped and the perpetrator caught, the victim is not named in the press in order to protect their privacy.

Goodness knows where this will all end.

I’d like it to end with PA in prison personally but that will not happen

@OverByYer

I’d like it to end with PA in prison personally but that will not happen

And there we have it. You can't put someone in jail without a trial and a conviction.