Did these photos of Prince Andrew cause his royal dismissal?

Prince Andrew has been trying to dodge sexual assault allegations ever since 2011. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epsteins’s sex trafficking crimes, has continuously tried to expose Prince Andrew for sexually abusing her when she was a minor. The alleged victim has also uncovered incriminating photos of her and the prince.

Although the Duke of York has been avoiding and rejecting all allegations, a judge has now confirmed that the prince will have to face the sexual assault case.

Now, it’s been verified that Prince Andrew has given up his military titles. Buckingham Palace just revealed that the prince will no longer undertake any public duties and will defend his case as a private citizen. Will the Duke of York finally be taken to court for the assault allegations against him?

Photos of Prince Andrew & Giuffre exposed

Giuffre, now 38, claims she was coerced by the Duke of York’s friend Ghislaine Maxwell and lured into Epstein’s international sex trafficking crimes. She asserts she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions – in London, New York, and on Epstein’s island Little St James.

Although Prince Andrew has firmly denied ever meeting Giuffre, photos were released to prove otherwise. In the photos, Prince Andrew has his arm around a young Giuffre’s waist. Meanwhile, the infamous minor-recruiter Ghislaine Maxwell is seen looming in the background of the photos.

Giuffre’s legal team argues that she was a “frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her” when she was allegedly abused by Andrew, noting that “no person, whether President or Prince, is above the law”.

Prince Andrew must head to court

The recent groundbreaking ruling means the case can now proceed towards a trial before a jury in New York this year. Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies is set to fiercely question the prince in front of jurors under oath. It’s even possible that the prosecutors will question Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and their daughter Princess Beatrice.

This intense ruling is the latest setback for Prince Andrew, who has continuously tried to distance himself from Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein after their crimes were unveiled.

The 46-page ruling by federal Judge Lewis Kaplan places the New York trial for some time between September & November. Although Kaplan can’t force Andrew to attend the trial in person in the U.S., he would be expected to provide statements and potentially be questioned by videolink.

The Duke of York gives up his military titles

As of January 13th, Prince Andrew has renounced his military titles & royal charities. This breaking news from Buckingham Palace follows only a day after the federal judge ruled to move the sexual abuse case forward. 

Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Andrew “will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.” Although the prince has already been hiding from the public and avoiding all royal events due to the scandal, he continued to hold a series of honorary military titles. This fact had caused outrage from former members of those military units due to his sexual assault case.

The royal palace also noted that the Duke of York will “no longer use the style ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity.” This rule was also required for Prince Harry when he withdrew from royal duties to move to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020.

—

What do you think will happen to Prince Andrew? Will he actually have to face Virginia Roberts Giuffre in court? Let us know all of your thoughts in the comments below.