The shadow of Jeffrey Epstein continues to loom large over Prince Andrew, with royal insiders warning that the disgraced duke remains in "serious jeopardy" of further legal action despite his multi-million pound settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
Royal editor Russell Myers has revealed that palace officials are growing increasingly concerned about the Duke of York's ongoing vulnerability to new allegations emerging from the Epstein scandal. The royal, who was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022, continues to cast a long shadow over the monarchy.
A Settlement That Solved Nothing
While Andrew's out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022 was intended to draw a line under the scandal, insiders suggest it may have inadvertently opened the floodgates for other potential claimants. The substantial payout, believed to be around £12 million, has been described by sources as "an admission of guilt by another name" in the court of public opinion.
Myers reported: "There is genuine concern behind palace walls that despite the settlement, this scandal is far from over for Prince Andrew. The feeling is that other accusers might emerge, seeing the financial success of Virginia Giuffre's case."
The Unravelling of a Royal Career
The duke's fall from grace has been both spectacular and comprehensive:
- Stripped of all military affiliations and royal patronages
- Removed from working royal status
- Forced to abandon his cherished apartment at Royal Lodge
- Banned from representing the monarchy in any capacity
His disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019, where he expressed no regret over his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein, has been widely credited with accelerating his downfall.
An Uncertain Future
With King Charles implementing a "slimmed-down" monarchy, there appears to be no way back for the Duke of York. Palace sources indicate that the King remains determined to protect the institution from further damage, leaving Andrew permanently sidelined.
As one insider bluntly stated: "The royal family has moved on, but Prince Andrew remains trapped in the past, facing a future where further legal challenges could emerge at any moment."
The lingering threat of new lawsuits means that for Prince Andrew, the Epstein scandal may represent a crisis without end, continuing to haunt both the duke and the monarchy he once represented.
