Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams calls Prince Andrew’s decision to give up his title “essential » after email allegedly shows he misled the public about his Epstein connection timeline.
Prince Andrew relinquished his royal title on Friday and experts believe that this was a smart move by the British monarchy to ensure they aren’t « overshadowed by sleaze. »
On Friday, Andrew released a statement shortly after excerpts were published from an upcoming posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who has alleged she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17.
« In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family », a statement released by the royal, and obtained by Fox News Digital, read. « I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. »
« With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further », the statement continued. « I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me. »
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital it was vital the royal family made this decision.
« It was essential that this happened. It would have soon got to the point where anything the monarchy did would have been overshadowed by sleaze. When the email which proved he lied about the timeline of his links with Epstein went public, this was inevitable in some form.
« Thankfully, Parliament was not involved, but public disgust could have reached the level that it could have been », he said.
Fitzwilliams continued, « This should also enable him to pick up the strands of his life as opposed to clutching on to honours he obviously did not deserve. He may protest his innocence, but when polls show you have no popular support and your options have run out, you have no choice but to give up your title and the Order of the Garter. »
The royal expert believes that Andrew was « forced out. »
« I think he was forced out, he and Sarah Ferguson face much more scandal. They, to coin a phrase from his email to Epstein that will haunt Andrew, ‘are in it together.’ The posthumous memoir out next week shows that Virginia Giuffre achieved in death what she could not in life », he concluded.
