Disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could potentially salvage his shattered reputation by cooperating with American investigators probing the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to a leading royal historian.
The path to potential redemption
Royal expert Ed Owens has identified what he describes as the quickest road to some form of public redemption for the former Duke of York, though it carries significant personal risk. Since his disastrous Newsnight interview, Andrew has experienced a dramatic fall from grace, losing all his military titles and royal patronages.
The prince now faces what many describe as internal exile at the Sandringham estate, with his public reputation in tatters. The situation may deteriorate further when US authorities release extensive evidence from the Epstein files, where Andrew's name reportedly appears 173 times - more than any other British citizen.
The risky proposition
Owens told the i newspaper that voluntary cooperation with American investigators could represent Andrew's best chance at rehabilitation. I think that Andrew's quickest road to some kind of public redemption would be to engage with the American authorities and to shed some light on what he knew about Jeffrey Epstein and what he saw behind closed doors, the historian explained.
He added that while Andrew likely understands he can never restore his previous status, this approach offers an opportunity to put the record straight and demonstrate at least some remorse for his association with the convicted sex trafficker.
Political pressure mounts
US Democrat Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi has publicly called for Andrew to testify before Congress, even suggesting he would issue a subpoena if necessary. Come clean. Come before the US Congress, voluntarily testify. Don't wait for a subpoena. Come and testify and tell us what you know, Krishnamoorthi stated in a message to the prince during a BBC Newsnight appearance.
Throughout the ongoing Epstein controversy, Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding his association with the financier.
Palace resistance likely
Despite the potential benefits, Owens anticipates Buckingham Palace officials would probably attempt to block any testimony from the disgraced royal. A lot of work has been done by the Palace to implement a policy which has the effect of once and for all keeping Andrew from public view, he noted. They know that he is a weeping sore that can continue to weep and would doubtless rather avoid that happening publicly.
Complicating matters further is Andrew's position in the line of succession. Though stripped of his prince title, he remains eighth in line to the throne, creating a constitutional anomaly that only Parliament could resolve through legislation similar to the 1936 Act of Abdication that removed Edward VIII.
Government sources indicate no current plans to alter the succession order, with Owens speculating that such a move could spark difficult conversations about the monarchy's future in Commonwealth nations like Australia and Canada.
Buckingham Palace and representatives for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor declined to comment when approached by The Mirror regarding these developments.
