Revelations concerning Prince Andrew’s involvement in a sordid sex scandal has shaken up the royal family – particularly Queen Elizabeth II and his “devastated” daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.
The Prince was alleged to have been involved in orgies with a then-underage girl who was kept as a sex slave by his friend American billionaire and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s claimed Andrew, now 54, slept with American Virginia Roberts three times in 2001 when she was just 17. At the time, she was employed by Epstein, who was an associate of the Prince.
For the Duchess of Cambridge, 33, the allegations have only added to her instinctive dislike of her uncle-in-law known as “Randy Andy”.
Andrew has long held a reputation as the most lascivious modern royal, with former girlfriends including a lesbian porn star and a lingerie model. He’s also known to be “handsy” with attractive females – one London socialite who’s met the Prince several times told The Times he looks uncomfortable at parties unless a girl is fawning over him.
Adding to Catherine’s dislike of Andrew, just a few weeks after Prince George was born, his great-uncle Andrew sent a bizarre gift consisting of small royal soldiers. When the subject of shooting came up at George’s first Christmas, Kate innocuously suggested she and William would wait until George was “in his teens” before he would be exposed to guns.
Kate hadn’t even finished explaining why she felt that might be safer before Andrew interrupted her, barking “nonsense!” He went on to rant about how all royals should be able to ride and shoot as soon as possible.
Until last week, the pattern seemed set in stone – Andrew would behave boorishly and, despite their distaste, his family members would have to put up and shut up.
In the meantime, William has reached out to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie, who are said to be “utterly distraught” over the claims. And while there’s been no love lost between Kate and the sisters – who see her as a rival who stole their spotlight as born royals – her heart goes out to them.
“Kate has never been particularly welcomed by Beatrice or Eugenie, but she does feel very sorry for them – and she and Wills were in agreement that any past pettiness from them shouldn’t stop him from doing everything he can to be supportive in this most awful of times,” says a close friend of Kate’s.
The very serious allegations levelled at Andrew have been strenuously denied by his advisors. Even so, the scandal may have destroyed the world’s renewed affection for the royal family, which arose mainly due to public interest in William and Kate’s fairytale relationship.
“This is a nightmare for the royals – a decade of global goodwill could be wiped out in one fell swoop. Given how hard Wills and Kate have worked to restore the monarchy’s standing, you can understand their despair,” says our insider.
“If there is any silver lining to be found, it is perhaps that Kate can now distance herself from Andrew, who she always felt was an unpleasant influence.”
Read all about the shake-up at Buckingham Palace and the woman who brought forward the allegations, only in Woman’s Day, on sale January 12th.
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