Queen to spend millions funding Prince Andrew's defence

[adrianmolesmole]

I seriously think this will damage her reputation.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queen-prince-andrew-epstein-millions-legal-case-b1931084.html

Whole family is a joke.

It may damage her reputation but it’s her son. Of course she’ll spend the money. Just like you would.

I honestly never thought I'd think this of the Queen, but late last night on reading this the fleeting thought that passed through my ancient head was, 'Oh for fuck's sake.'

Oh well, at least we get the spectacle of subpoenas being issued to Andrew's former wife, his daughter Beatrice et. al. for the duchy money.

Like Dynasty on acid.

It's just the latest in a lifetime of poor judgement.

I don't think it will. It's coming out of her own pocket.

Most mothers would bail their kids out.

I think Andrew is a joke but I don't think she is. She didn't do it. Neither did the rest of the family.

or is this another RF thread...

Hi Nicola [waves]

It's coming from the income of the DoL:

www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk/

It's really time to revert the entire Lancaster estate to the elected State. No more funding of futile time wasting defences of aristocratic (alleged ) international trafficking sex offenders.

It would be much better used for funding the NHS and education.

@User135792468

It may damage her reputation but it’s her son. Of course she’ll spend the money. Just like you would.

Speak for yourself. If my son were accused of rape, after years palling around with the likes of Epstein, no I don't think I'd be funding his defence. Especially when he has a ski chalet to sell.

I think it does reflect badly on her.

So for the avoidance of doubt, effectively WE are paying for Andrew's defence.

I’m not a royalist in any sense of the word but won’t this strengthen calls to make us a republic? Especially if he’s found guilty.

How does the source know HM is funding PA's legal fees.

Those of you saying most mothers would do that ... if I had a middle aged son who had been accused of having sex with an under-aged/trafficked girl, I'd be telling him "FFS Andrew, man up and stop avoiding having those paper served and get your arse into court to prove you're not a scuzzy little pervert!"

@PicsInRed

So for the avoidance of doubt, effectively WE are paying for Andrew's defence.

I'm glad you said this. It's how I think of it now too, given the appallingly venal use of the money.

But dozens of posters will tell you it's the Queen's private income, like she earned it by making eccles cakes for fifty years.

To an increasingly cynical public, the DoL is more grift than graft.

In my experience parents take the innocent until proven guilty route because why wouldn't you? its your child you love them and don't want to feel they could ever do such a thing

She is just as human as the rest of us she just has a lot more money than some

I think he should fund it himself though being a grown man with money

Those of you saying most mothers would do that ... if I had a middle aged son who had been accused of having sex with an under-aged/trafficked girl, I'd be telling him "FFS Andrew, man up and stop avoiding having those paper served and get your arse into court to prove you're not a scuzzy little pervert!"

Absolutely this. It's a disgrace & I do believe the time is drawing near for the end of the Monarchy in the UK. I used to support them but no more.

Maybe she thinks he's innocent of what he's been accused of.

If I thought my DSs were innocent I'd pay for their defence.

The American lawyers wouldn't be chasing him if he was poor. One has said he could make an offer and it could disappear.

Well it is the Queen’s private income that she would use to help Prince Andrew, not U.K. tax payer funds.

Besides if Prince Andrew were destitute, taxpayer funds would be used for his defence.

Everyone has the right to a defence solicitor to ensure a fair trial...or would you rather just have mob justice?

It's a civil suit, PlanDeRacc so there would be no public funds spent on him anyway.

It may be the Queen's private money, but how did the crown get it? The Crown lands etc were taken from their previous owners over centuries by right of conquest.

No it's not the queen's private income.

It's Duchy of Lancaster funds which is used to pay for some if the RF.
So... let's say this whole debacle costs £20M. The sovereign grant will have to be topped up by that amount to compensate.

DoL is not a totally private estate. It can't be. Because it's exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Corporation Tax that us mere mortals have to pay

P.s. the sovereign grant comes for US the public

From us.

@AmanitaRubescens

How does the source know HM is funding PA's legal fees.

Those of you saying most mothers would do that ... if I had a middle aged son who had been accused of having sex with an under-aged/trafficked girl, I'd be telling him "FFS Andrew, man up and stop avoiding having those paper served and get your arse into court to prove you're not a scuzzy little pervert!"

If it were police in my own country wanting to serve papers yes, I’d feel the same way. But don’t forget this is an international case...and it is setting a strange (and not good) precedent regarding jurisdiction in my opinion.

Should U.K. allow the US to criminally prosecute a U.K. citizen in the U.K. without even filing for extradition for a crime alleged to have happened in the US?

I mean look at the Harry Dunn case, apparently the U.K. cannot criminally prosecute a US citizen in the US or extradite them....and that was negligent manslaughter by dangerous driving of a young man...no “alleged” about that crime!

So, imho, if I were U.K. I would have told the US to fuck off, a la the Harry Dunn case. I would have refused any papers to be served on any UK citizen. Tell them get an Interpol warrant then we’ll talk.

But I guess UK needs US more? Perhaps back door deal regarding trade agreement? Who knows what horse trades politicians are doing.

@SpindleWhirl

It's a civil suit, PlanDeRacc so there would be no public funds spent on him anyway.

Did not realise it was a civil suit. That explains a lot.

The American lawyers wouldn't be chasing him if he was poor

Or perhaps because he's been named as a member of this crime 'group' and an associate of a convicted pedo, by a victim, and they need to bring him to court?

On another note it's interesting that the article says we don't know the source of PAs riches, how can that possibly be? Seems utterly outrageous.

Where does the Queen's millions come from? WE are all paying for his defence.

@PlanDeRaccordement

So if I'm up in court I can expect all my legal bills paid by the taxpayer?
See my post about DoL paying for this which will reduce income to pay for the RF which means an increase in funding from us via sovereign grant.

Rumour has it PA is hoping his £17m Swiss chalet might sell. Amazing how he got that given his income at the time was £249k

So if I'm up in court I can expect all my legal bills paid by the taxpayer?
If you’re destitute. See that word? I said, if he were destitute.

One has said he could make an offer and it could disappear.

Not one of Virginia Giuffre's lawyers. She has been clear she is doing this to raise awareness of what's been hidden for so long behind the facades of wealth and power. She's a campaigner, eschewing anonymity.

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial - which is a criminal trial - starts next month. Andrew has been named as a 'person of interest' ie a potential witness / person with relevant information.

The optics on this are really not looking good for the royal family at all, especially as the Maitlis interview showed that Andrew was very capable of mangling the truth* to suit his own ends, yet still they protect him.

*diplomacy speak