The monarchy faces significant reputational damage due to the Royal Family's long-term enabling of Prince Andrew, according to a new analysis. The scandal, which began with a photograph of Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001, has exposed a pattern of entitlement and poor judgment that critics say could ultimately threaten the institution.
Despite Andrew's public denials, the photograph and subsequent revelations have proven difficult to dismiss. He paid Giuffre $12 million of his mother's money to settle a lawsuit, and his royal protection officer was instructed to seek derogatory information about her, using details that could only have come from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his associates.
The family's response has been criticised as too slow and insufficient. Queen Elizabeth stripped Andrew of public duties and honorary colonelcies after his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview, but his behaviour has scarcely changed. He continues to appear at public events and clings to his grace-and-favour residence, Royal Lodge, despite pressure from King Charles.
Recent publications, including Andrew Lownie's book Entitled and Giuffre's memoir Nobody's Girl, have brought further grim details to light. The palace's attempt to quietly phase out his titles without acknowledgment of fault has been seen as inadequate, with the public and media far ahead of the royals in recognising the severity of the situation.
The analysis concludes that the monarchy's imperative is to pass on the institution intact, but the damage from Andrew's behaviour, enabled by his family for years, may be lasting. The more intelligent royals now realise the gravity of the threat, but it may be too late to undo the harm.
