Prince Andrew’s future in the Royal Family is in doubt after a leaked email appeared to show him in touch with Jeffrey Epstein a year after claiming he’d ceased contact
More than once, Prince William has spoken of his plan to bring about changes in the Royal Family when he ascends to the throne. And it appears increasingly probable that one of these alterations could spell trouble for his uncle, Prince Andrew.
In a recent chat with Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy, the future king declared: “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good and I embrace that, I enjoy that change. I don’t fear it, that’s the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change.”
The Duke of York’s position within the Royal Family is under intense scrutiny following the leak of an email that seemingly shows him communicating with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a year after he claimed to have severed ties.
Now, royal commentator Jennie Bond suggests that it’s “crunch time for the Duke, and indeed the Duchess, of York.” Penning her thoughts in the i newspaper, she speculates that William might “wield the axe” and permanently exclude Prince Andrew from any future public duties once he becomes King.
Jennie, who served as the BBC’s royal correspondent for 14 years, elaborates: “King Charles has never been that close to Andrew, but he is his big brother. And Charles is a man who is all about harmony …he is not someone who enjoys confrontation.”
In contrast, she notes that William is “one step removed” from Charles and Andrew’s relationship, and he is also “determined to change the monarchy for the better”.
One of these changes, he proposes, could involve giving his uncle the boot from The Firm to avoid any further humiliation.
However, Jennie points out a hurdle that William must tackle – his close bond with cousins Beatrice and Eugenie. She stated: “Banishing or humiliating Andrew and Fergie would cause the sisters further hurt. And that’s a tough nut for William to crack.”
In addition to Andrew’s long-standing ties with Epstein, who passed away in a New York prison less than a week after guards took him off suicide watch, questions have been raised about the Prince’s friendship with Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo.
The BBC has reported that MI5 took the rare step of intervening to caution against Andrew having contact with Yang after the Special Immigration Appeals Commission discovered that he had not revealed his connections to a covert agency of the Chinese government specialising in “political interference.”
Recent surveys suggest that the British public would largely support stripping Andrew of his remaining titles – which include Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh.
But, she added, both Andrew and former wife Sarah Ferguson “should rightly fear the day that William becomes king”.
