Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Increasingly embroiled in the high-profile Epstein case, they face new consequences.
The fall from grace of Prince Andrew (65) seems to have no end. New evidence linked to the Epstein case – one of the most resonant scandals to have touched the British Crown in recent times – has put him back in the spotlight: firstly, the leak of several emails published in the UK media which show that, contrary to what he claimed, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II had remained in contact with the American financier Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted of sexual trafficking of minors; and, secondly, the publication of the posthumous memoirs of Virginia Giuffre, a woman who accused the prince of sexual abuse (Epstein was found dead in prison while awaiting trial and Giuffre, for her part, committed suicide in April). Hence, to mitigate further damage to his image and quell a new wave of scandals, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew will no longer use his noble titles or honors, including that of Duke of York. The forceful decision, agreed upon with King Charles III, was announced on October 17 in a statement: "After discussing this with the King and my immediate and extended family, we have concluded that the continued accusations about me are distracting Her Majesty and the Royal Family from their work. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and my country first. I remain firm in my decision of five years ago to step back from public life," reads the statement attributed to Andrew.
Although he will remain a prince, he will no longer receive the title of Royal Highness. Not only will he no longer be a Knight of the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious order in the United Kingdom, to which he has held since 2006, but he will no longer be called the "Duke of York," a title of great symbolic weight for the royal family. When Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed this prestigious title on her son and daughter-in-law. And here's a side effect of the decision taken on October 17: Sarah Ferguson will also no longer be able to be called the "Duchess of York," a title she continued to use even after their divorce in 1996. For the prince's ex-wife, the scenario isn't ideal either: the press published the emails Fergie sent to Epstein, which reveal the close ties she also had with the financier. The consequences were not long in coming. According to royal experts, Buckingham Palace's decision could spell the end of Fergie's writing career (she is the author of more than 30 books in various genres, from children's literature to historical fiction). In recent weeks, at least six organizations have terminated her employment, including York City Council. The most pessimistic predict that the publication of her next children's book could be postponed indefinitely. What's more, they venture that Ferguson could be effectively shut down by the publishing industry.
lanacion
