Prince Andrew and the secret sealed document

[LOL The Irony]

The Telegraph are reporting that the settlement is over £12 million, so yes 8 figures, and that the Queen will help pay, which if the public have any sense will go down like a lead balloon:

But the chalet is worth £17 million, why does she need to help out?

 

[gingerheid]

But the chalet is worth £17 million, why does she need to help out?

He owned it jointly, and they owed money to the people they bought from.

 

[brad465]

But the chalet is worth £17 million, why does she need to help out?

Yes this was my thinking, unless the chalet sale hasn't been completed yet and Andrew plans to payback whatever the taxpayer the Queen has given him.

 

[LOL The Irony]

He owned it jointly, and they owed money to the people they bought from.

Yes this was my thinking, unless the chalet sale hasn't been completed yet and Andrew plans to payback whatever the taxpayer the Queen has given him.

I see...

 

[najaB]

and that the Queen will help pay, which if the public have any sense will go down like a lead balloon...

It's only a matter for the public if the money comes out of public funds.

 

[duncanp]

It's only a matter for the public if the money comes out of public funds.

The report in The Telegraph says that the £12 million is being privately funded by The Queen.

The Queen, of all people, knows better than to use public money for such a purpose.

 

[birchesgreen]

I certainly don't see Andrew being able to do anything to earn money without being seen in public.

Apart from say getting a job at a pizza restaurant in Woking.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

In spy novels people who get into trouble can get new identities, perhaps that would be a possibility, plus elocution lessons to acquire an inconspicuous accent. He could grow a beard too.

 

[najaB]

In spy novels people who get into trouble can get new identities, perhaps that would be a possibility, plus elocution lessons to acquire an inconspicuous accent. He could grow a beard too.

I wouldn't really bother. He's pretty forgettable as is.

 

[AM9]

I feel some truths will emerge when the Queen is no longer here. That may explain a lot of what has happened. There have been rumours about Andrew since he was born.

 

[brad465]

There are increasing calls for Andrew to be stripped of his Duke of York title. However, I don't think he should have this removed, if the following rule still applies:

I believe having a Duke/Duchess title prevents the holder from standing for election as an MP and from them becoming a peer in the Lords. While there are several reasons I don't see Andrew ever becoming an MP, I think it's better safe than sorry to make sure something stops him interfering with the political system and further trying to damage the Royal's reputation. If no alternative to retaining his Duke of York title exists to stop him entering Parliament, then he should remain a Duke.

From what could find a major reason Edward VIII was made the Duke of Windsor after abdication was to stop him from doing the above.

 

[najaB]

There are increasing calls for Andrew to be stripped of his Duke of York title. However, I don't think he should have this removed, if the following rule still applies:

Another reason: he hasn't been convicted of, or admitted to, any illegal activity.

It was right and proper to strip him of his patronages while he was fighting the case since it was brought against him as a private citizen and they wouldn't want the armed forces, charities, etc to be dragged into the courts, even by association. But now that the matter is settled, basically it would be removing his title because he associated with bad people.

If that was sufficient grounds for someone to to be stripped of their title then there wouldn't be man of them left!

 

[AM9]

Another reason: he hasn't been convicted of, or admitted to, any illegal activity.

It was right and proper to strip him of his patronages while he was fighting the case since it was brought against him as a private citizen and they wouldn't want the armed forces, charities, etc to be dragged into the courts, even by association. But now that the matter is settled, basically it would be removing his title because he associated with bad people.

If that was sufficient grounds for someone to to be stripped of their title then there wouldn't be man of them left!

I don't think that the title and name 'Prince Andrew' will be regarded with much reverence by the public again anyway. He's 61 and will probably fade away into the background.

 

[43096]

He's pretty forgettable as is.

Although not by Virginia Giuffre.

 

[AM9]

Although not by Virginia Giuffre.

At least she can move on now and the media will move on to intrude somebody else.

 

[Bevan Price]

The best thing would be for him to try to retire to a quiet, private life, and let most of the public slowly forget about him and the people he has been involved with. Though inevitably some media parasite will try to bring up more dirt (true or false) when they get short of other non-news. Maybe, after a while, he can follow the example of John Profumo, and regain a degree of public acceptance by doing some worthwhile charitable activities.

** For younger readers, John Profumo was a government minister who lied about sharing an expensive tart (Christine Keeler) with a Russian agent. He later became chief fundraiser for a London-based charity.

 

[Gloster]

I don’t think that Andrew Windsor can really do anything except retire out of the limelight and stay there until he dies. The difference with Profumo is that here we are talking about possible trafficking and underage (according to US law, I think) girls, and very unsavoury behaviour by those close to Andrew. As I was only two or three years old I don’t remember Profumo (even though the first name I ever spoke was ‘Chrissie Keeler’), but it seems that it was his lying to Parliament (where have I heard that recently?) that was much of the problem (*) as all involved seem to have been to a great extent consenting adults. Additionally, a lot of dirty linen was thoroughly washed after Profumo, but with Andrew a lot of answers have been hidden.

To lie in the nude,
Is not at all rude,
But to lie in the House,
Is obscene.

 

[AM9]

I don’t think that Andrew Windsor can really do anything except retire out of the limelight and stay there until he dies. The difference with Profumo is that here we are talking about possible trafficking and underage (according to US law, I think) girls, and very unsavoury behaviour by those close to Andrew. As I was only two or three years old I don’t remember Profumo (even though the first name I ever spoke was ‘Chrissie Keeler’), but it seems that it was his lying to Parliament (where have I heard that recently?) that was much of the problem (*) as all involved seem to have been to a great extent consenting adults. Additionally, a lot of dirty linen was thoroughly washed after Profumo, but with Andrew a lot of answers have been hidden.

To lie in the nude,
Is not at all rude,
But to lie in the House,
Is obscene.

Profumo was fraternising with a prostitute (Keeler) whose 'professional' clients included Yefgeny Ivanov, a Russian naval attache, (read probable spy) of whom he had been warned by the security services. All of this happened whilst Profumo was the minister of war! Yes, technically he resigned because he had lied to the house, but there was a whole lot more to consider in those less publically liberated times.
Andrew has already passed the threshold of current concepts of decency for such a high profile public figure - especially one who has benefitted from the civil list.

 

[brad465]

Prince Andrew can sleep easy tonight for a change:

Jean-Luc Brunel: Epstein associate found dead in Paris prison cell

Model agent Jean-Luc Brunel was being investigated for rape and supplying girls to Jeffrey Epstein.

www.bbc.co.uk

A French modelling agent and a former associate of the late US financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead in his prison cell in Paris.
Jean-Luc Brunel was found hanged in his cell in La Santé prison on Saturday morning, French media report.
He has been in custody since being placed under formal investigation in 2020, accused of sexual harassment and the rape of minors aged between 15 and 18 in France.
Mr Brunel had denied any wrongdoing.
Police have opened an inquiry into the circumstances of his death.
Mr Brunel co-founded French modelling agency Karin Models in 1977, and MC2 Model Management in the US with funding from Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was found hanged in a New York prison in 2019 as he awaited trial over allegations he ran a network using underage girls for sex.
He was already a convicted sex offender, having pleaded guilty to prostitution charges involving a minor in Florida in 2008.
Mr Brunel was arrested at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport in November 2019 as he was preparing to board a flight to Senegal.

His arrest was the result of an inquiry by French prosecutors into rape and sexual assault allegations against Epstein, focusing on potential crimes committed against French victims and suspects who are French citizens.
US court documents also allege Mr Brunel procured girls for Epstein, flying them from France to the US and promising them modelling contracts.
Virginia Giuffre, one of the main complainants in Epstein's prosecution, has alleged she had been forced into sex with Mr Brunel.

"Epstein didn't kill himself" is the only conspiracy theory I believe in, and if anything this latest news reinforces the idea it isn't actually a conspiracy.

 

[GusB]

Prince Andrew can sleep easy tonight for a change:

Jean-Luc Brunel: Epstein associate found dead in Paris prison cell

Model agent Jean-Luc Brunel was being investigated for rape and supplying girls to Jeffrey Epstein.

www.bbc.co.uk

"Epstein didn't kill himself" is the only conspiracy theory I believe in, and if anything this latest news reinforces the idea it isn't actually a conspiracy.

I had just seen the same story reported by the Guardian and my first thought was how convenient it seemed. Maxwell must be getting rather nervous!

 

[najaB]

if anything this latest news reinforces the idea it isn't actually a conspiracy.

Well, it reinforces that it actually *is* a conspiracy, rather than a theory.

 

[brad465]

Looks like another scandal involving Prince Andrew has surfaced, this time regarding him taking money from a Turkish Fraudster:

Tomorrow's Papers Today - UK Front Pages - Latest Newspaper Headlines

All of UK's Tomorrow's Front Pages ✅ Updated Daily between 7PM - 11pm ✅ The Mail, Express, Times, Guardian and many more Proudly supporting #buyapaper

www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk

 

[najaB]

Based on the part of the story shown in the image of the Daily Mail, I can believe that Andrew wasn't directly involved in scamming Ms Isbilen. I would guess that this 'middleman' was probably involved in some other underhanded/illegal scheme with Andrew and tricked her into paying the money in his name.

 

[Busaholic]

What does it take to bang up a Prince in the U.K.? About the same as in Saudi Arabia, I'd suggest. No wonder the two royal families are so close.

 

[brad465]

There does seem to be a case of desperation in trying to get back of public life:

Prince Andrew returned from Falklands War 'a changed man', he says in deleted post

The prince recalled his Falklands War experience in a now deleted post on his ex-wife’s Instagram.

www.bbc.co.uk

Prince Andrew returned from the Falklands War "a changed man", he said in a now deleted piece posted on his ex-wife's Instagram account.
The Duke of York recalled his time as a helicopter pilot in the conflict 40 years ago in three posts on Saturday.
His piece was initially signed off as HRH The Duke of York, before the reference to His Royal Highness was soon removed.
And only hours later all the posts were removed.
It is unclear why the 700-word account was taken down.

But Andrew gave up the right to use HRH in an official capacity in January when the Queen stripped her son of his honorary military roles as he faced a US civil action over sexual assault allegations, which he denied.
Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her on three occasions when she was 17. The case later reached a multi-million pound settlement out of court.
In the first Instagram post, Sarah, Duchess of York wrote that she had asked Andrew for his reflections on the 40th anniversary of his sailing from Portsmouth to the Falklands.
Prince Andrew began: "As I sit here at my desk on this cold crisp spring morning thinking back to April 1982 I've tried to think what was going through my mind as we sailed out of Portsmouth lining the flight deck of HMS INVINCIBLE."
He concludes: "So whilst I think back to a day when a young man went to war, full of bravado, I returned a changed man.
"I put away childish things and false bravado and returned a man full in the knowledge of human frailty and suffering."
The 62-year-old said he was thinking about those experiencing conflict today.

There briefly comments opened on this article, which have now disappeared, which I think went out by mistake, but not before some interesting views.

 

[D821]

Talk about arrogant!

 

[brad465]

Well he has lost something associated with York:

Prince Andrew: Duke of York loses Freedom of City honour

Councillors in York vote to remove the honour bestowed on Prince Andrew in 1987.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Duke of York has been stripped of his Freedom of the City of York honour following a vote by councillors.
The motion to remove the accolade given to Prince Andrew in 1987 was carried unanimously at a full council meeting.
Councillors also called for him to relinquish his Duke of York title in the wake of his out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in the US.
In February, the prince agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexual assault.
Ms Giuffre had been suing the Duke of York in a civil case, claiming he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
York Liberal Democrats, the largest group on City of York Council, said the prince had been contacted by the local authority before the meeting to inform him of the motion.

The Freedom of the City of York was bestowed upon the prince in 1987
Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, said the prince was the "first to ever have their freedom removed" by the city and backed calls for his title to be relinquished.
The rank of duke, like other peerages, can only be removed by an act of parliament, which last happened in 1917.
Speaking at the extraordinary council meeting held at York Racecourse on Wednesday evening, Liberal Democrat Darryl Smalley said the government and the Royal Family must "step in to remove his title to finally end Prince Andrew's connection to York" if the prince "fails to do so".
Mr Smalley, the council's executive member for culture, leisure & communities and proposer of the motion, said: "Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the Queen, we believe that it is right to remove all links that Prince Andrew still has with our great city.
"I was pleased to see councillors of all parties support this motion and make it clear that it is no longer appropriate for Prince Andrew to represent York and its residents."

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @brad465 to update.

 

[brad465]

Court files have been released on Epstein's associates, which includes Prince Andrew. Many of the names are not a surprise, and this doesn't mean they were up to no good, but many will no doubt be anxious:

Jeffrey Epstein: Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton named in court files

Files detail sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's connections but no bombshell revelations immediately emerge.

www.bbc.co.uk

The UK's Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton are among high-profile figures named in US court papers detailing connections of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The newly-released records form part of a case against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's girlfriend who has been jailed for helping him abuse girls.
But the documents so far unveil no major new allegations about Epstein nor revelations about his associates.
Prince Andrew is accused of groping a woman, which he denies.
Other names in the documents include singer Michael Jackson and magician David Copperfield, though no wrongdoing is alleged.
Mr Clinton appears in a number of the documents. The former US president has acknowledged being a former associate of Epstein but has strongly denied he had any knowledge of his crimes.
The first files from the much-hyped trove - covering about 900 pages - were released on Wednesday, after an order by New York Judge Loretta Preska, who acknowledged many of those named had already been identified by the media or in Maxwell's criminal trial.
Judge Preska said that many others did not raise an objection to the release of the documents. However, she ordered that some names remain redacted because they would identify victims of sexual abuse.
Some of the more than 100 people on the list make allegations about other individuals, or are potential witnesses, and more documents are expected to be released in the coming days.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2009 and took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial over sex-trafficking charges.

 

[najaB]

Many of the names are not a surprise, and this doesn't mean they were up to no good, but many will no doubt be anxious

That does bear stressing - the fact that someone was associated with Epstein just means that they're associated with him, nothing more.