How have I only just realised this about Prince Andrew …

[LilacLemur]

I don’t know if I’m just oblivious to things but how have I only just realised Prince Andrew was 41 when he met Virginia Guiffre.

For some reason I thought this happened in the mid 80’s before he was married and definitely before children.

Knowing how old he was and that he had children just makes it so much more shocking (not that it needed to be).

Was anyone else blind to this?

I gather that some people didn’t believe he was guilty?

At least John Profumo had the grace to slip quietly away and find reparations volunteering in soup kitchens in east London I believe before dying with dignity surrounded by his family in old age.

I've thought for a while that Profumo should be Andrew's model now. A military charity would work given his past. He doesn't seem to have good advisors though.

I don’t how to respond to that type of thinking.

There were victims, witnesses and an investigation, and at some point a judge.

dont blame the advisers. Blame Andrew

He doesn't listen to advisers

John Profumo was an inveterate womaniser all his adult life despite having a trophy wife (who was still in love with her first husband), it wasn't just Christine Keeler he pulled but that scandal ended his political career because she was also seeing a Russian ambassador. They were a right shower. However she was over 21 - and she bore the brunt of it, the men got away lightly except for Stephen Ward who committed suicide.

Just seen this. Ew.

From September 2022 just after the Queen died. Andrew's odd method of consoling his daughter

(Trigger warning?)

x.com/RaggedTP/status/1568983298029879300

Perhaps PH could hand over Invictus to PA?

He wouldn’t listen even if he had!

No. He should never be seen in public. Something behind the scenes.

He will never do anything like this though. Far too arrogant and self-important!

Oh god no!

It's the sort of thing William might try to force, maybe. That Harry has lost an initiative he actually started and it being given to PA would be taken really badly.

But whether Andrew would give a f*ck about attending when he'd be sniffing around any female is another matter altogether

Perhaps he had support from his wife to do that. I think he did.
Was Christine Keeler about 19? It wasn't really the sex that got him, I think, rather the 'lying to Parliament'.

Profumo and his wife always supported each other. He was a serial womaniser but extremely wealthy amd he gave her great security which she wanted after her first marriage, from which she had two children one of whom was disabled, ended. They had a child of their own.

Christine Keeler.was 21 when the scandal broke. The involvement between her and Eugene somebody, from the Russian embassy, was a big issue. The possibility of pillow talk between Keeler and Profumo being passed to the Russians. All nonsense but that's how it was during the cold war, everyone was scared of spies and Russians. I remember it all very well, was fascinated as a youngster.

I think after she died it came out that Keeler had in effect been subject what now might look like exploitation. She'd already had a child by 17 that died and was stuck between shit boyfriends who were abusing her.

And now there is a Netflix drama coming

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/christine-keeler-john-profumo-scandal-felicity-gerry-b2711513.html

I would have been a teenager at the time and it was the first time I'd come across the word 'call-girl'.

Yes, Christine Keeler had a similar life story to VG, sadly.

Her autobio a good read. Mandy Rice-Davies was a tougher character & fared much better. Keeler & Ward the casualties.

Girls who are abused growing up often are casualties. Not all, there are protective factors, and individual differences.

And of course so are boys who are abused.

There was also Kanga Tryon, in Charles' case. I do agree he is not a serial womaniser though.

I know what you mean about there being little evidence for Philip's affairs. However, before the Lownie Mountbatten bio & Chris Moore's book on the Kincora abuse ring, that was how the allegations that Mountbatten had affairs with adult men & also abused preteen and teen boys appeared : unsubstantiated rumours.

And those were much worse, given they concerned paedophilia. Given that they seem increasingly likely to be true & to have been covered up, it wouldn't surprise me hugely for Philip's possible afffair/s to have also been covered up, especially as he was the royal consort.

@Tiredofbullsit Lownie is openly stating Phillip had affairs. He even states one of them was with SF’s mother. He wouldn’t be doing that without any evidence I think.

Evidence - or family gossip?

His wife's family were neighbours to the Fergusons - he says it came from 'family information'.

https://archive.is/N0kNP

Although Prince Phil is, safely, dead it’s very bold to unequivocally claim? It’s also interesting he ‘only’ hints at other things re: PA’s poss love child.

Greek man has affairs. Hold the front page. (I know he’s German ancestry but he was a Greek prince).

And yes I’m Cypriot. Of my parents and grandparents generation I think the majority of my family members and parents friends the men had affairs and dcs.

I hoping my generation have changed but there isn’t the gossip about it as much so who knows.

Sadly, yes generational & cultural. My French ex boss had photos of mistress & wife on desk.