Family of Epstein accuser calls for more inquiry after palace yanks 'prince' title, royal digs from Andrew

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — The family of Virginia Giuffre joined the British prime minister and other politicians Friday in praising King Charles III’s decision to strip his brother Andrew of all remaining titles and honors.

Andrew will no longer have the status of prince and must leave his Windsor residence, Buckingham Palace announced late Thursday.

The palace confirmed that he will move to private accommodation and will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, though the disgraced royal remains eighth in line to the British throne.

Giuffre, whose accusations against Andrew resurfaced with renewed attention on convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, died of suicide in April, months before the publication of her memoir this month. She led the way for other women to come forward about their abuse by Epstein and those around him.

Her brother, Sky Roberts, said the king’s decision was a victory but called for more action.

“We have to have some sort of investigation that goes further into this,” he said of Andrew. “He’s still walking around a free man. … He needs to be behind bars, period.”

Her family praised her: “An ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”

The government wasn’t consulted but backed the decision.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he fully supports the king, adding, “Our hearts go out to the family of Virginia Giuffre and all the victims who suffered from Jeffrey Epstein’s despicable crimes.”

The minister of state for trade policy, Chris Bryant, said: “I think the vast majority of people in this country will think that it’s the right thing to do.”

Asked whether Andrew should give evidence to investigations in the U.S., Bryant said it wasn’t the government’s role to tell someone what to do. “And he is now just an ordinary member of the public,” he said.

The royal statement also alluded to Epstein’s victims, saying “their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

The move comes as concern built inside the royal household over the damage Andrew’s ties to Epstein and Giuffre’s claims of sexual assault have done to the monarchy’s reputation.

Andrew, 65, voluntarily gave up some military and charitable titles earlier this month under mounting pressure.

But calls for a complete break intensified after emails surfaced suggesting he had stayed in contact with Epstein after claiming to have cut ties.

One 2011 email read, “we are in this together,” after an infamous picture of him with his arm around a teenaged Giuffre with Ghislaine Maxwell in the background was leaked. Andrew ended the email expressing the wish to “play some more soon.”

Private prosecution?

Andrew has consistently denied all accusations against him but in 2022 paid an estimated $16 million to settle a U.S. civil case brought by Giuffre, who said she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17.

The British Metropolitan Police have said there was not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges.

Republic, an anti-monarchy campaign group, said it has instructed lawyers to explore a private prosecution against Andrew on charges of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office.

The group’s chief executive, Graham Smith, said: “It’s a devastating indictment of the U.K.’s criminal justice system, police and politicians … that we must resort to a private prosecution.”

Smith said it’s a concern that many people believe that the royals are not treated equally under the law. “I firmly believe there is strong enough evidence to justify a serious investigation.”

In line for the throne

A YouGov poll published Thursday found 91% of Britons hold a negative view of Andrew, the worst ever recorded for a royal.

Pressure had been building in Parliament to scrutinize the former prince’s funding arrangements, and the extent of his continued privileges.

Earlier this week, Parliament’s spending watchdog raised concerns over using taxpayer money on Andrew’s home at Royal Lodge, part of a portfolio of properties that helps fund the royal family with public money.

Andrew paid about $10 million upfront to fix up the 30-room home in exchange for a long lease, effectively living there rent-free, but critics say taxpayers are still covering much of the cost to maintain it.

Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also move out of Royal Lodge. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles.

Andrew remains in the line of succession, for now. It would take an act of Parliament to remove him, as well as consent from Commonwealth nations.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). Visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.

Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.

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