Prince Edward Becomes First Royal Family Member to Speak Out About Brother Andrew After Latest Batch of Epstein Emails
It’s become the elephant in the room that no one in the royal family wants to keep talking about, but more information about Andrew Moutbatten-Windsor‘s connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to be made public.
The U.S. Justice Department released more documents last week, and it’s really no surprise that Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson‘s names are in those as well.
In one file, Andrew allegedly invites Epstein to Buckingham Palace. The files also include an offer by Epstein to introduce Andrew to a “beautiful” 26-year-old Russian woman named Irina.
The email exchanges call into question Andrew’s claims that he’d cut contact with Epstein in December 2010 after they were pictured together in New York, which was two years after the late financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor.
The new information is another headache for the royals as Andrew’s days at Royal Lodge have come to an end as King Charles ordered he move to a private home in Norfolk.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Feb. 3, the king and Andrew’s younger brother, Prince Edward, was asked by CNN’s Eleni Giokos about the “very difficult” headlines regarding the newly released Epstein files which are “very close to home” for him.
“I’m not sure this is the audience that is probably the least bit interested in that. They all came here to listen to education, solving the future,” he answered, before adding, “I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this.”
Edward’s comments came as he wrapped up his four-day trip to the United Arab Emirates. He is the first member of the family to speak publicly following the new batch of photos and emails released by the Department of Justice that show several new correspondences between Andrew and Epstein.
Back in October, King Charles stripped Andrew of his prince title he held since birth. In addition to the prince title, Andrew will also lose the titles of Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, the style “His Royal Highness,” and the honors of the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. The monarch also announced that the disgraced royal would vacate the lavish 30-room home in which Andrew held a 75-year lease.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement at the time that read: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor … His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Andrew has continued to deny any wrongdoing.
