Bizarrely, when it comes to Prince Andrew, there is some sympathy around for the Royal Family & Monarchy. As if…. he’s just an aberration – the embarassing black sheep of the family. Conveniently ignoring that his behaviour is a predictable result of enabling arrogant toffs who are never ever told they are wrong Sir.

Let’s look back on Prince Andrew and the workings of the Palace – and note how the Monarchy’s army of PR people and “aides” assisted and enabled him at every turn.

We all now know – and he does not deny – that Prince Andrew forced himself on a vulnerable teenager. This Bad Apple theory suits the secretive inner workings of the monarchy – it obscures the fact that the palace that has been straining to help him avoid justice all along. Enabling Andrew. That’s the story no-one is focusing on…

1999 – Prince Andrew flies with Maxwell to Epstein’s island. Flight logs show this. Prince Andrew’s security & the palace knew this. Did no-one think….erm….to ask ANY questions ? Did the Met Bodyguards who accompanied him report what they saw at Little St James ? What say you Buckingham Palace? It really stinks.

1999 – Epstein and Maxwell stay at Balmoral. Is there any security clearance or background check required ? Did anyone query who they were ? Or if Prince Andrew says they’re his chums, do they dare not question Royal Judgement (mind you Savile was allowed to roam around the palaces as he pleased)

2001 – Prince Andrew Rapes Virgina – The Photo. The house. The vulnerable 17 year old runaway surrounded by older rich and powerful people. So, Buckingham Palace – why can’t you tell us …were Andrew’s security with him ? Why are their logs not available ? Why won’t the palace produce the notes that prove he was in Pizza Express that night ? Did they rip out & destroy the pages that said ‘Tramp nightclub. Private residence in Belgravia with young girl’ ?

2012 –THE PALACE HELPS ARRANGE FOR EPSTEIN TO PAY OFF FERGIE’S DEBTS: that’s what happened. It was all arranged via ‘The Duke’s Office’ – i.e. palace staff. Despite Epstein’s conviction – nobody objected. They were not duped, they facilitated. Later Fergie apologises for taking £15k from Epstein to pay off her debts – saying “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.” Thanks for clarifying that Fergie. She also added “This is the first time ever in my life, and I mean ‘ever’, that I have been debt free. It allows me to go forward to do what I do, being a good mother, a philanthropist for children…”

There you go, a “philanthropist for children”, who eagerly grabbed money from a convicted paedophile.

2015 – THE PALACE VICTIM BLAMES – “It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with [the woman]. The allegations made are false and without any foundation.” thunders Buckingham Palace. Think about that for a moment – those are not Prince Andrew’s words, they are The British Monarchy’s words. They are issued from on high, and come with the full heft of the establishment behind them. They are written by a highly paid aide, with expensive lawyers whispering advice. I’d imagine the Queen would have had to approve the wording. We now know they are LIES. You, the taxpayer paid ( lots) to victimise a young girl, to upset and traduce her.

THE PALACE THREATENS JOURNALISM – When the initial story broke, the Palace started flexing its muscle, making veiled threats against newspapers who might reveal further information. ABC newsreader Amy Robach (unwittingly) revealed that she had recorded an interview with Andrew’s victim – Virginia – and that it had never been broadcast. “I’ve had the story for three years,” Robach says in the video ( which no longer seems to be online, but there’s a version here – warning links to FOX ). “We would not put it on the air. Um, first of all, I was told, ‘Who was Jeffrey Epstein? No one knows who that is. This is a stupid story. Then The Palace found out that we had her whole allegations about Prince Andrew and threatened us a million different ways.”

September 2019 – “sources close to” Prince Andrew ( i.e. the palace and his PR people ) claimed the Andrew / Virgina photo was faked – absolutely desperate stuff from the palace, trying to undermine the victim and their irrefutable evidence.

November 2019 – The Prince and the Palace thinks they can outsmart us, with a tell all interview with Emily Maitliss. Whilst turned out to be a great scoop, it’s worth considering the dubious journalistic practice – it took place in the grandeur of Buckingham Palace ( ergo, lending it state-like gravitas ). Also, the interview was not in keeping with news norms – Maitlis discussed the content of the interview in advance ( over tea at the palace, Prince Andrew himself declared he thought the photograph was a doctored fake. ) Astonishing though it may seen, the incredibly stupid alibi – I was at Pizza Express – was prearranged by the palace before the interview. His answer would have been rehearsed.

Feb 2020 – An exasperated FBI announced “Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation“. “Sources” tell the newspapers that he is ‘more than happy to talk’. But of course, those unattributable sources ( i.e. The Palace) are just lying. The Monarchy is run by the Queen, and no-one is making Prince Andrew cooporate with the law, and they continue to lie to the public, and besmirch the victim.

There may be other countless moments the palace intervened to pervert the course of justice. They know Prince Andrew is toast. I wonder what role the Government took in the whole thing. Did they apply pressure to get rid of charges?

But they don’t want anyone scrutinising THEIR ROLE in the whole sleazy farrago. Because you – the taxpayer – pay for palace staff, for PR, for lawyers.

Which is why we should not draw a line under it.

( and once again, respect & sympathy for Virginia Giuffre, the girl from rough circumstances who took on the establishment and won. Go Girl.)

[ UPDATE: 29th March – Prince Andrew, is pride of place beside the Queen at Westminster Abbey for Prince Phillip’s memorial service. Being chauffered, heralded, protected. ]

Please do share on Facebook & Twitter & elsewhere.