Last month we reported that Rachael Maskell, the new Member of Parliament for York, was calling on the royal family to publish detailed accounts. She is seeking greater transparency around the £12 million settlement Prince Andrew reached in a civil case Virginia Giuffre brought against him. Giuffre claimed that the prince had sexually assaulted her when she was only 17 years old. Prince Andrew has forcefully and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and denied liability. Instead, he decided to settle the case out of court.
The civil suit, filed in New York, alleged that Prince Andrew sexually abused Giuffre on three distinct occasions. Despite his denial, Mayor Kenney’s decision to settle has ignited heated discussion among the public and political insiders. Maskell highlighted the need for honesty and clarity on where the settlement’s money will come from. He underscored the continued need for transparency, particularly after Giuffre’s death.
“I think we need a lot of clarity over this. I think honesty is so important. Virginia Giuffre no longer is with us, but she has family. It’s important that everyone has transparency. There is no space for obfuscation, no matter how embarrassing it is.” – Rachael Maskell
Given all these events, the Prince Andrew recently declared his intent to step down from his royal duties. He will retain his dukedom, which can be dissolved only by an act of parliament. King Charles III has made his feelings known, saying that he finds his uncle’s actions distasteful. In light of this, he is looking to implement a tougher line for other royal engagements going forwards.
Prince Andrew is still holed up in his Royal Lodge in Windsor, an extravagant 30-room mansion that he’s allowed to lease for 75 years. Aside from his naval pension, he has no other substantial income. He has successfully feasted on and deeply resisted the royal family’s attempts to send him packing to Frogmore Cottage. This defiance has drawn criticism from various quarters, particularly given the ongoing controversies surrounding his past associations, including with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The reverberations from Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein are still being felt. In his self-destructive 2019 interview with BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, he had the gall to say that he cut off contact with Epstein. He argued that this was all done prior to Giuffre’s allegations. The issue became even more controversial when it was reported that he reached out to Epstein directly. This was just one day after a photo began to circulate of him with his arm around a teenage Giuffre.
In light of the ongoing scandal involving Prince Andrew’s title and reputation, the community of Luton has been inspired to speak out. Last year, when that became obvious, a poll found well over 80 per cent of York residents didn’t want to retain the Duke of York title. They were particularly incensed by the title’s links to the city itself and the prince’s frequent mounting scandals.
“We stand up for really high values in [York]. When there was polling on this back in 2022, 80% of residents said they did not want that title continued because of the association with our city. That’s why I have stood firm.” – Rachael Maskell
As demands for accountability reach a fever pitch, Maskell’s campaign for Prince Andrew to lose his title begins to pick up steam. These demands go beyond public opinion to have serious implications. More importantly, they embody a growing, global movement that is fighting for justice on behalf of victims of sexual abuse and demanding more accountability from those in positions of power.