William and Kate urged to avoid Andrew fallout
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been urged to keep their focus on official duties and avoid being drawn into the renewed controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein. The comments come as fresh attention has fallen on past links between the Duke of York’s circle and Epstein, prompting questions about how the wider Royal Family responds as the story continues to develop.
Former royal editor Duncan Larcombe said Mirror that the Prince and Princess of Wales’ “priority” should be to stay “absolutely distant” from Prince Andrew and to “carry on as normal, at all costs”, rather than being pulled into public commentary about him.
The Mirror report also references newly released emails in which Sarah Ferguson discussed her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Epstein, including messages about lunch plans sent shortly after Epstein’s 2009 release from prison following a conviction for soliciting sex from an underage girl. In the same piece, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, is quoted urging people to “remember the victims” when asked about the fallout while appearing at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
The renewed scrutiny follows earlier developments in the Duke of York’s situation, including Prince Andrew being removed from his lodge after the Epstein fallout, as the monarchy seeks to contain reputational damage amid continuing public and political pressure.
Prince Andrew has denied wrongdoing, and the Mirror notes that being named in released documents does not itself indicate misconduct. However, pressure remains for him to cooperate with American authorities, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer quoted as saying that anyone with information should be prepared to share it, placing victims at the centre of any response.
