Inside the Queen’s plan to rehabilitate Prince Andrew and route back to public life

Inside the Queen’s plan to rehabilitate Prince Andrew and route back to public life

02/01/2023

The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly suggested Prince Andrew devote himself to charitable work in a bid to return to life in the public.

Friends of the Duke of York told The Independent that Her late Majesty, who passed away 8 September 2022, made the suggestion to provide a path to redemption following the fallout from his settlement with Virginia Roberts for an "undisclosed sum" – which was not an admission of guilt.

“Andrew’s mother suggested the route forward was taking on a charitable cause,” a source told the publication. “Other members of the family agreed and saw it as his only way to rehabilitation.”

The pals explained that she thought the 'Profumo-style' path to redeeming himself was the right way to go.

This is a reference to John Profumo, who devoted himself to charity work after being forced to step down from government over his affair with Christine Keeler back in the 1960s.

Thanks to his charity work, Profumo was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975, redeeming himself following the scandal.

It comes after Prince Andrew is said to be planning to launch a legal case in a bid to overturn the multi-million pound settlement with Giuffre over allegations he had sex with her when she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein – but lawyers have told him to "forget it".

The Duke has always denied her claims, but reached a settlement with her outside of court in February 2022 for an "undisclosed sum". The settlement is not an admission of guilt.

According to MailOnline, he is now expected to argue that he had never met Giuffre and that the infamous photo of them posing together is actually a fake.

In an interview on TalkTV on Sunday 22 January, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is also in the photo, insisted that it had been doctored. "It's a fake. I don't believe it's real for a second, in fact I'm sure it's not," she said. "Well, there's never been an original and further there's no photograph, and I've only ever seen a photocopy of it."

It's believed the Duke of York has consulted with lawyers after Giuffre's abuse case against US lawyer Alan Dershowitz crumbled. Giuffre dropped the case as she said she “may have made a mistake in identifying” Dershowitz as her abuser.

A royal source told The Sun that Andrew now "wants to prove" his innocence in court after being "pressured into settling" and he's "paid a heavy price, personally and professionally."

With the King's private blessing, according to the publication, Andrew is now set to the take on the legal case after coming into £10million with his ex wife Sarah Ferguson after selling their Swiss chalet. He is also said to have come into money from his inheritance from the late Queen Elizabeth II, which is worth "several million".

Despite these preparations, it appears top lawyers in the US have shut down any hope of Andrew getting a retraction from Giuffre.

According to the Mirror, one top lawyer said he can "forget it" while another said he should “just feel grateful that he is not in jail”.

Lisa Bloom, who represents several of Epstein's victims, said: “Prince Andrew signed his name to a settlement. And now he wants out? Forget it. Not going to happen. Nor should it, because the pain he would inflict on Giuffre.

“Leave her alone. Live up to your agreement. Man up.”

Meanwhile US attorney Spencer Kuvin, who is also a lawyer of several of Epstein's victims, said: “It is unbelievable. His chances of overturning a negotiated and agreed settlement are just about as likely as Epstein coming back to life. Andrew needs to just feel grateful that he is not in jail.”

OK! has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.

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