Prince Andrew
What role ex-wife Fergie and daughter Beatrice could play in the process
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew in 2000 with daughter Beatrice
© epa PA Ison / Picture Alliance
Queen Elizabeth II announced that Prince Andrew would have to defend himself “as a private person” in the process of allegations of abuse. The focus is now on his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their children Eugenie and Beatrice.
After the death of Prince Philip and the hustle and bustle surrounding Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, 2022 should be all about Queen Elizabeth II. On February 6, 1952, the British Queen ascended the throne. This 70th anniversary will be marked with numerous events throughout the year, from 2nd to 5th June a festival weekend is planned, for which the British will have an additional public holiday.
But now the celebrations for the Queen are overshadowed by a possible civil lawsuit against her second eldest son Andrew. The 61-year-old could appear in court this fall for allegedly having sex with a minor. Plaintiff Virginia Roberts Giuffre accuses Andrew of repeatedly sexually abusing her when she was a minor around 20 years ago. Prince Andrew denies the allegations.
After US Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected Andrew’s motion to have the case dismissed, paving the way for a court hearing, the Queen reacted surprisingly quickly. The 95-year-old stripped her alleged favorite son of the military titles and royal patronage. Prince Andrew is also no longer allowed to use the salutation “His Royal Highness”. He still hasn’t rid himself of his title Duke of York, but the pressure is growing. The driving forces behind Elizabeth II’s decision are said to have been the heirs to the throne, Prince Charles and Prince William. Andrew will defend himself “as a private citizen” in the process, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
As a private person, Prince Andrew now has to rely on his lawyers – and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters Eugenie and Beatrice. Contrary to expectations, the two princesses should not be questioned by the plaintiff Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s legal team. Above all, Beatrice plays an important role in this case.
Prince Andrew gave daughter Beatrice as an alibi
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims to have been invited by Prince Andrew to London’s Tramp private club on March 10, 2001 and then moved on with the royal to Ghislaine Maxwell’s private home. It is said that there was abuse there. A now famous photo shows Prince Andrew wrapping his hand around the waist of then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts Giuffre, with Ghislaine Maxwell standing in the background. In his interview with the BBC in November 2019, the Queen’s son claimed the picture was fake.
He also cited his daughter Beatrice as an alibi in the interview. “I was at home, I was with the kids. I took Beatrice to a party at a Pizza Express in Woking, around 4 or 5pm. The Duchess wasn’t there and we had a simple rule in the family: When one is gone, the other stays at home,” Andrew said. When asked by journalist Emily Maitlis why he remembered it so clearly almost 20 years later, the prince replied: “To go to a ‘Pizza Express’ in Woking is very unusual for me. I’ve only been in a few times Woking and I, oddly enough, remember it exactly.”
The problem: A year after Andrew’s fatal BBC interview, there were reports that Princess Beatrice could not remember the evening at the “Pizza Express” restaurant. The then twelve-year-old was invited to a school friend’s birthday party. Her parents confirmed to the British newspaper “Daily Mail” that the princess had come to the party, but could not say whether Prince Andrew was there. A detail that could shake Andrews Albi and should now be examined more closely.
Ex-wife Fergie has defended Prince Andrew for years
Just like the statements of Sarah Ferguson, who has been divorced from Andrew since 1996, but still stands by her ex-husband unconditionally. Rumors persist that Fergie and Andrew are now in a relationship again and do not rule out another wedding. The two live together in the Royal Lodge, former residence of Queen Mum, in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The luxury chalet in Switzerland, which Andrew is now selling for financial reasons, he and Fergie bought together in 2014. The prince is scraping together his millions to prepare for a possible compensation payment to Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
He cannot hope for financial support from his ex-wife, but Fergie continues to support him morally. For years, the 62-year-old has described the allegations against Andrew as “nonsense”. “To see such a wonderful man going through such pain. He’s the best man I know,” Ferguson told Vogue Arabia in 2019.
Statements that also interest Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s lawyers. Because they suspect that Sarah Ferguson knows more than she has previously revealed.
Sources: “Daily Mail”, “BBC”, “Vogue Arabia”, “Royal UK”