Major blow to Andrew as protesters sneak Epstein photo into Buckingham Palace
Anti-monarchy activists said they had taken questions about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to ‘the heart of the royal household’.
Anti-monarchy protesters snuck the photo inside alongside the words ‘what did you know?’ (Image: Ben Clinton/Republic/PA Wire)
Protesters snuck a photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein into Buckingham Palace in just the latest blow to the former duke. Andrew, who was stripped of his titles by King Charles in October, owes his exile from public life to his friendship with Epstein, which continued after the financier’s conviction for child sex crimes in 2008.
Activists from the anti-monarchy group Republic reignited the controversy on Monday by unfurling a large image of the ex-Duke of York with Epstein in Buckingham Palace’s throne room, alongside a second banner with the words: “What did you know?” Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his connection with the late sex offender and was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation.
Graham Swift, chief executive officer of Republic, said the group had “taken questions about Andrew to the heart of the royal household, the symbolic home of the monarchy”.
Andrew paid millions to Virginia Giuffre in a civil lawsuit despite claiming to have never met her (Image: US District Court – Southern Dis)
He added in a statement: “This question isn’t going away. It is simply not believable to think that Charles and William weren’t briefed years ago about the numerous allegations against Andrew.
“Security services, police and government would have had concerns about Andrew’s behaviour, and would have briefed the palace. Not least because of the potential threat to national security and the risk of blackmail.”
Andrew has been a thorn in the Royal Family’s side for years, also facing separate accusations of having sex with the late Virginia Giuffre three times, including when she was 17 and during an orgy after she was trafficked by Epstein.
The King’s younger brother paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed to have never met, millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022. It was not an admission of guilt.
It also emerged in May that detectives investigating Andrew will consider allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office.
The former duke has previously denied all allegations.
Andrew most recently made headlines when a National Audit Office report revealed that he received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on his Royal Lodge estate in Windsor while paying a peppercorn rent for more than two decades.
The payments came to light after he was forced to vacate his home and move into Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
SOURCE: EXPRESS