Prince Andrew continues to find himself in deeper and deeper s**t as far as this whole Jeffrey Epstein scandal is concerned…
The Duke of York, long since connected to the now-deceased Epstein, has most recently found himself mired in a controversy surrounding the latter’s alleged pedophile ring after old 2010 photos of the pair recently re-emerged. And now, having been thoroughly connected to the disgraced late billionaire, Prince Andrew has decided to speak out.
Related: What About That Alleged ‘A-List Actor’ Involved In Supposed Pedophile Ring?
In a new statement from Buckingham Palace released to The Telegraph, the royal family had this to say about Epstein, trying desperately to downplay a connection between the two men in the process (below):
“The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes. His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.”
There’s no question Epstein’s alleged behavior is abhorrent — and so too are the allegations made around a reported ring of high-profile people involved — but at issue here is the Duke’s clear connections to the late New Yorker.
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire???
As has been reported across the globe, new court documents have once again identified Prince Andrew by name in a series of new sexual assault allegations, these made by Virginia Roberts.
And the 59-year-old’s 2010 visit to Epstein came two years after the felon had already been convicted of sex with a minor and placed on the sex offender’s registry. So while the Duke can call the pair’s meeting an “error in judgement,” which he has in the past, it’s still a damning event and a REALLY bad look for the royal family.
Aside from all that, the prince’s new statement (above) is interesting in how it makes no mention of the allegations against him, having only centered on the convicted felon’s “abhorrent” behavior. Maybe that’s the Duke of York trying hard to separate himself from scandal??? Something tells us a LOT of people might be reading this new statement with high skepticism….
For what it’s worth, Buckingham Palace did release an earlier statement denying any impropriety on Queen Elizabeth II‘s son’s part, saying (below):
“This relates to proceedings in the United States, to which the Duke of York is not a party. Any suggestion of impropriety with under-age minors is categorically untrue. It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
So, there is that denial out there in the world.
Still, the heat is on for the Duke of York. Even with Epstein dead and gone (and plenty of conspiracy theories surrounding that event, too, BTW), it doesn’t appear to be much of a reprieve for the embattled prince.
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[Image via WENN/Florida Department of Law Enforcement]
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