Prince Andrew has held a meeting with the Queen at her Balmoral estate as American prosecutors request his witness statement for their Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Following continued scrutiny over Prince Andrew’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke of York has had meetings with the Queen at her Balmoral estate.
Queen and Prince Andrew Hold Meeting on Epstein Scandal
Andrew stayed in Epstein’s houses on numerous occasions yet has downplayed their friendship to the press in the wake of the scandal. Epstein committed suicide last August while awaiting trial for underage sex trafficking. Andrew maintains that he did not witness any criminal behaviour by Epstein.
The Duke is accused of failing to assist the criminal investigation into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, one of Epstein’s closest associates. The Prince’s lawyer denies these allegations and says that the Prince has offered to help with the case on numerous occasions. In April, the US Department of Justice made an official request to the Home Office for Andrew to be handed over to give evidence.
Buckingham Palace was unable to intervene in the “Mutual Legal Assistance” (MLA) application. If passed, the Duke of York would be obliged to go to a British court to give evidence under oath. He would be treated as a witness. “The Queen wants to be kept informed and she will not be back at Windsor until early October” according to inside sources. This clearly signals that the two have lots to discuss with regards to legal preparations and his role within the royal family. The Duke of York has already stepped down from royal duties but has been pictured at royal events in an unofficial capacity.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, claims to have been forced to sleep with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17 years old, a claim that the Duke of York denies. Prince Andrew has allegedly refused to be questioned by New York prosecutors and lawyers representing Epstein’s victims. The Duke denies this and maintains that he is innocent.
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