Could Britain’s Andrew go to jail?

Could Britain’s Andrew go to jail?

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his home in Royal Lodge over the growing concerns about his link to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The 65-year-old, who continues to deny all the allegations against him, had previously stepped back from royal duties in 2019. Andrew has faced accusations of abuse from Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year.

There are also growing calls in the United States to have Andrew testify in front of Congress. But is the former prince now in legal peril? Could he actually go to jail? Let’s take a closer look.

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Is Andrew in legal peril?

First, it is important to note that Andrew has not been charged with anything. However, it is possible that new revelations could emerge. Giuffre, in the posthumously published memoir, has accused Andrew of having sex with her three times, including when she was a teenager.

It was the publication of the memoir and recent revelations about the relationship between Andrew and Epstein that have increased the pressure on the Royal Family to act.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," the palace said in a statement. “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.”

It was recently reported that Andrew hosted Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge in 2006. Notably, this came after an arrest warrant was issued against Epstein for sexually assaulting a minor.

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Andrew, in 2010, sent Epstein an email saying it would be ‘good to catch up’. This came after Epstein admitted to forcing a child into prostitution and even went to jail.

“Also, I have no immediate plans to drop by New York, but I think I should at some stage soon,” Andrew wrote to Epstein. “I’ll look and see if I can make a couple of days before the summer. It would be good to catch up in person.”

Could he actually go to jail?

Some think he could.

As ‘His Royal Highness’ (HRH), he was essentially off limits for the establishment. He was protected by the dint of his status and royal titles. However, as the palace has taken great pains to point out, Andrew is essentially now a private citizen.

As Andrew Lownie, who has written several books on the royal family, including Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told USA Today, “There are a whole series of charges that could be levelled at him with good evidence.”

“If the authorities properly investigate him, there’s a good chance charges will be brought, and he may well be found guilty and go to prison.”

Many consider the scandal over Andrew and Epstein one of the worst crises facing the Royal Family. One should never underestimate the will of the British royals to survive. A royal palace source has said that the decision was taken by Charles but that the monarch had the support of the wider family, including Prince William, who will one day take the crown from Charles.

Royal author Robert Hardman said Andrew’s ties to the US sex offender were increasingly putting the royal family in “Team Epstein”, which Charles could not live with. “He wants to put as much distance between his brother and the monarchy as he can,” Hardman, the author of Charles III: The Inside Story, said.

“They were worried what else might come out," Lownie added. “They know that some of the victims are now much more emboldened to speak out. It was better to cut loose at this stage.” In short, he adds, “They can basically wash their hands of him and he’s going to be left to sink or swim.”

King Charles, who was heckled during a recent royal outing over Andrew’s ties to Epstein, seems to be in no mood to protect his younger sibling.

But some think it may be too little, too late.

“I don’t know that this move is enough to repair the damage that has been done,” Afua Hagan, a journalist and royal commentator, said. “It’s a ruthlessness on behalf of King Charles, but it’s also ruthlessness on behalf of Prince William.”

The development comes in the backdrop of support for the Royal Family declining over the past decade. A British Social Attitudes survey showed just 51 per cent of respondents thought it was “very important” or “quite important” for Britain to have a monarchy. That is the lowest ever figure reported and shows a lack of interest in the royals, particularly from younger generations.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Donald Trump administration is under growing pressure to release the Epstein files – which could implicate many of the rich and powerful friends of Epstein on both sides of the pond.
A growing number of US lawmakers are calling on Andrew to come and testify before Congress. Many think it is just a matter of time before all the sordid details about Andrew and Epstein are out. The Royal Family could be in danger too.

“They’re not out of the woods yet, but they’ve appeased a lot of the public anger,” Lownie cautioned.

“They’ve shown that they care about the victims. But things can still go wrong. I kind of feel the mood is that Andrew needs to pay some sort of penalty for this. And if that involves him going to prison, then I think that would be quite popular. The sense that elites haven’t got away with it, that they are accountable, would send out a very strong message that people would be very happy with.”