Disgraced Prince Andrew, again within the highlight however nonetheless out within the chilly By Reuters

© Reuters. Britain’s Prince Andrew and Prince Edward march throughout a procession the place the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is transported from Buckingham Palace to the Homes of Parliament for her mendacity in state, in London, Britain, September 14, 2022. REUTERS/C

By Angus MacSwan

LONDON (Reuters) – Amid the shows of emotion and deference for the reason that loss of life of Queen Elizabeth, the presence of 1 determine has added a discordant notice to the solemn rituals main as much as her funeral – that of her disgraced son Prince Andrew.

Apparently the queen’s favorite son, Andrew was stripped of most of his titles and faraway from royal duties because of a scandal over his friendship with U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted intercourse offender, and a associated intercourse assault allegation.

He has not been charged with any felony offence and has denied any wrongdoing.

After a interval the place he has been out of the general public eye, the sight of Andrew, 62, within the international highlight following his mom’s loss of life has served as a reminder of his fall from grace.

A Royal Navy veteran of the Falklands Struggle, he has not been allowed to put on a navy uniform throughout two solemn processions, one in Edinburgh and one in London, when he and his three siblings walked behind the queen’s coffin.

King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward wore full gown uniforms whereas Andrew was in a morning go well with, drawing consideration to his peculiar standing. He will likely be allowed to put on uniform as a particular mark of respect for the queen throughout a ultimate vigil the siblings will maintain as her physique lies in state.

In Edinburgh on Monday, one heckler shouted out: “Andrew, you are a sick outdated man”.

The person was bundled away and has been charged with a breach of the peace. But when that was a uncommon occasion of loud public protest, the sentiment appears to be extra broadly shared.

“There is no place for Andrew in the way forward for the household or nation, however I feel the queen did proper to sideline him. He is introduced disgrace, however I feel his household is aware of what the British folks consider him,” mentioned Mary Burke, a 47-year-old from the south coast city of Brighton, as she waited within the lengthy line to view the queen’s coffin in London’s Westminster Corridor.

Andrew has not taken half in occasions at which royals have greeted members of the general public, apart from a quick look exterior Balmoral Fort two days after the queen’s loss of life.

Eyebrows have been raised over his continued place as a Counsellor of State, a proper place.

“If this is not modified, the monarchy goes to lose many who presently may assist them,” wrote Sheila Le Mottee in a touch upon an article within the pro-independence Scottish newspaper The Nationwide.

“The one cause he’s tolerated simply now could be as a result of he’s a son who has simply misplaced his mom.”

PLAYBOY PRINCE TO PARIAH

As soon as upon a time, Andrew was a well-liked determine.

Tabloids nicknamed him the “Playboy Prince” as they cheerfully reported on his love life, and he received respect for his service as a helicopter pilot within the Falklands.

His marriage in 1986 to Sarah Ferguson was seen on the time as bringing a breath of contemporary air to a stuffy establishment.

All of it went unsuitable step by step after which out of the blue.

As a roving commerce ambassador, he gained the nickname “Air Miles Andy” for his frequent travels, which frequently concerned rounds of golf. His marriage resulted in divorce in 1996. The media criticised him for what was described as high-handed behaviour and an excessively lavish way of life.

But it surely was the Epstein affair that introduced true ignominy upon Andrew.

He stayed at Epstein’s varied properties and one video from 2010 confirmed him inside Epstein’s New York townhouse, waving to a girl from the door. Epstein had been jailed in 2008 for youngster intercourse offences.

{A photograph} circulated picturing him together with his arm round a younger lady named Virginia Roberts – who accused Epstein of grooming her as a “intercourse slave”. Additionally within the image is socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who in June this yr was sentenced by a U.S. courtroom to twenty years imprisonment for youngster intercourse trafficking.

Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, mentioned as an adolescent she had been pressured to have intercourse with Andrew in London, New York and on a non-public Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002.

In an effort to clear the air, Andrew sat down for an interview with the BBC in November 2019.

He mentioned he didn’t remorse his friendship with Epstein, denied having intercourse with Roberts and mentioned he had no recollection of even assembly her.

However his justifications, for instance saying that her account of dancing with him in a nightclub the place he sweated profusely couldn’t be true as a result of he was unable to sweat following an overdose of adrenalin through the Falklands Struggle, have been broadly ridiculed.

Giuffre ultimately sued Andrew alleging he sexually assaulted her when she was aged 17. In March this yr, he settled the go well with with out admitting any legal responsibility. The settlement included an undisclosed cost.

Andrew stays eighth within the order of succession to the throne, and British media have speculated that he should maintain the hope of creating a full return to public life.

However royal observers assume that’s extremely unlikely, not least as Charles has already spoken of getting a slimmed-down monarchy with fewer working royals.

Andrew has, nevertheless, assumed one new function. A spokesperson mentioned he would take over care of his late mom’s two corgi canines.