King Charles And The Palace Urged To Take Prince Andrew Problem More 'Seriously'
King Charles has once again found himself at the center of a difficult conversation surrounding Prince Andrew. In the past, the monarch may have weathered royal feuds and tell-alls, but Virginia Giuffre’s upcoming memoir, Nobody’s Girl, could test the monarchy in ways even Prince Harry’s Spare did not. All set to hit shelves on October 21, the book has again brought back Andrew’s past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in the public view. Giuffre’s account reportedly offers a detailed version of events and abuse she says took place when she was 17. Though the Duke of York has consistently denied all allegations, the renewed spotlight again drags the House of Windsor back into its darkest chapter.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie believes this is “more pressure on Andrew,” and perhaps on the Palace itself. "I think most people don't know about The Billionaires Playboy Club, so they feel this is new. It's more pressure, and clearly, the press is moving in on Andrew in a big way. It seems to me the palace needs to take it seriously. They're going through the motions, but I don't see any concrete action being taken," he told Newsweek. Lownie’s warning lands at a time when even loyal royalists admit that silence now sounds like complicity.
He went further, suggesting that Charles must show visible action, starting with titles and privileges. "Signing himself Knight of the Garter is incredibly pompous," Lownie said, adding, "But also, what is he doing being a Knight of the Garter? That's an easy enough thing to remove." The author also criticized the optics of Andrew being escorted by police to the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, where he was seen laughing beside Prince William. While William looked less than thrilled to be near his uncle, Lownie said gestures like that undermine the royal family’s efforts to maintain credibility amid ongoing public concern.
Money, too, clouds the picture. Andrew’s 2022 out-of-court settlement with Giuffre was reportedly paid with help from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles. Lownie questioned how the Duke of York continues to afford life at Royal Lodge, asking, "Is this money coming from people in the Middle East or [Andrew's business venture] Pitch at Palace type stuff and China?" He argued that financial transparency is important if the monarchy hopes to restore trust. As Giuffre’s book nears its release, it is clear that the controversy surrounding Andrew remains unresolved.
While Charles is yet to take action on this matter, William has reportedly drawn a hard line on his uncle’s royal future. "Anyone who poses a threat to the monarchy is banished," warned British broadcaster Helena Chard in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Prince William is a shrewd operator and stands firm in his decisions. He is committed and determined to do his best for the future of the monarchy. And his mind is made up. His scandalous uncle is viewed as a black cloud. Future public royal duties are off the cards," Chard noted, adding, "Prince Andrew will not have a formal role in Prince William’s future modernized, streamlined monarchy."