Shortly after a U.S. court declared that Prince Andrew would be facing his accuser, Virginia Giuffre in court for sexually abusing her as a minor, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth had stripped her son of all patronages and military titles, as well as the privilege of using (HRH) His Royal Highness as a form of address.
The action, which is immediately effective, forces the British Royal to defend himself in the sexual abuse case as a “private citizen.” The civil case is due to enter a discovery phase where Andrew may be forced to interview under oath about the situation, a procedure known as deposition.
The decision by the Queen is reportedly a matter of wide discussions amidst the Royal Family as a whole. The decision was also handed down on the same day that 150 UK military veterans plead with Queen Elizabeth to strip Andrew of his honorary military titles. The demands follow Andrew’s relationship with the late and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
More than 150 UK military veterans have written to Queen Elizabeth and asked her to strip Prince Andrew of his honorary military titles. Their call follows his relationship with the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. https://t.co/3ikrzUByXa
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 13, 2022
A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace pronounced that: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.” “The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
A royal insider explained to the Daily Telegraph that all of Andrew’s roles were returned to the Queen immediately, and will be redistributed to other members of the Royal Family.
The royal downgrade arrived at Prince Andrew’s ears within 24-hours of the decision by a U.S. judge to proceed with Giuffre’s civil case on the grounds that Andrew attempted to shield himself using a clause from a previous 2009 settlement between Giuffre and Epstein. That settlement vaguely states that “other potential defendants” who might have assaulted Giuffre were free from further legal action, and Andrew effectively incriminated himself when he argued that he was in the category of “other potential defendants.”
Andrew has not yet been tried with any criminal offences, and vehemently denies all allegations against him.
Author: Craig Wright
