Andrew Accused of ‘Hiding Behind His Mother’ After Virginia Giuffre Charges, New Book Reveals
According to royal author Ian Lloyd, Andrew made it 'virtually impossible' for Virginia Giuffre's lawyers to serve him, with the Queen's support.
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of child sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
For years, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor avoided accountability, benefiting from the privilege that came with being the monarch's son. Often described within palace circles as the late Queen Elizabeth's 'favorite son,' he allegedly believed he could escape scrutiny as long as his mother remained his shield. That is exactly what happened in 2021, when his accuser, Virginia Guiffre, filed a civil claim against him for indecent assault. It left Mountbatten-Windsor so rattled that he hid out in Balmoral Castle to evade her lawyers from serving him.
In his book, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, royal author Ian Lloyd spoke of the Queen's alleged involvement. "In August 2021, when [Epstein and Andrew accuser Virginia] Giuffre's lawyers tried to serve legal documents to [ex-Prince Andrew], he made it virtually impossible by staying with the Queen on the secluded Balmoral estate, giving rise to criticism that he was hiding behind his mother's skirt." He continued, "Meanwhile, [The Queen] instructed her solicitors to warn British media outlets not to take or publish paparazzi photos of the royals or their guests on the estate, though photos of an irate-looking Andrew did appear."
Lloyd argued that despite Guiffre's claims of Mountbatten-Windsor having indecent relations with her when she was underage, the Queen still decided to stand by her son. He added, "While it must have been a relief to her [the Queen] when, in February 2022, the Prince [Andrew] made an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the fact that he knowingly associated himself with a convicted pe******* [Jeffrey Epstein] has caused irreparable damage to his reputation and that of the monarchy." He stressed that it would've undoubtedly broken the Queen's heart and cast a blight on the final phase of her long reign.
Unsurprisingly, Lloyd is not the only one who has alleged that the Queen often turned a blind eye to Mountbatten-Windsor's controversial actions. Royal author David Cannadine revealed in his book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Concise Biography of an Exceptional Sovereign, that she reportedly looked the other way when her son engaged in unscrupulous activities. He wrote, "There was nothing the queen could do…to persuade Prince Andrew to be more discreet." As for her alleged lack of control over him, he explained, "The Queen indulged her two younger sons [ex-Prince Andrew and Prince Edward] too much," following King Charles's complaints that she had been distant during his childhood.
In a similar vein, royal commentator Tina Brown told The New York Times podcast The Interview, "She [the Queen] was the one who protected him [Andrew], so, unfortunately, it made him worse." She also believed that his scathing fall from grace was enabled by his mother over the decades. "The Queen was there for 70 years, right? The hagiography around the Queen is intense. I mean, you're not allowed to ever criticize the Queen."
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453
