The beleaguered Duke of York reportedly faces losing his round-the-clock armed
police protection in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Evening Standard said the Home Office is recommending a major downgrade of security for the Queen’s second son after a
Scotland Yard review.
Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November following his disastrous Newsnight interview.
The Standard said the final decision lies with home secretary Priti Patel and prime minister Boris Johnson.
It comes as courtiers work with government departments to decide on the future security for the Duke and
Duchess of Sussex, who have quit as senior royals.
Harry and Meghan, like Andrew, have personal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police, paid for by taxpayers.
But the change in roles for the Sussexes, relocation in part to
Canada and desire to be financially independent now means their security and its funding forms part of the crisis talks.
Andrew’s car crash interview sealed his fate when he was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein’s victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, gave an interview to
BBC Panorama and said she was left “horrified and ashamed” after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in
London in 2001.
She claimed she danced with Andrew in Tramp nightclub, adding he was “the most hideous dancer I’ve ever seen in my life” and “his sweat was [...] raining basically everywhere”.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on security measures for individuals in the royal family.”
Buckingham Palace said: “As a matter of course we do not comment on security or security arrangements.”
For Andrew the news is yet another shockwave from the scandal that saw entities including BT, Barclays and many other institutions in various countries cut ties with his charity work, prompting him to eventually announce he was quitting royal duties, ostensibly retiring at the age of 59.
Shortly after his Newsnight interview, Andrew careened straight into a race scandal when an Evening Standard’s columnist described hearing him use the n-word at a Buckingham Palace meeting with him in 2012.
A day later he became embroiled in a similar scandal after a former home secretary said she was left “slack-jawed” about comments he made about Arab people during a state dinner.
Jacqui Smith, who served at the Home Office under Tony Blair, said the Duke of York’s remarks to her “involved a comment about camels” and were “as worse as you could imagine”.Related...
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Virginia Giuffre's BBC Interview