Prince William’s ‘concern’ for Queen amid Prince Andrew scandal

Prince William is reportedly “exasperated” by the drama surrounding an “arrogant” Prince Andrew and the fallout on the Queen.

Prince William and Prince Charles are reportedly locked in talks over how Prince Andrew’s alleged sexual abuse lawsuit will impact the Queen.

It comes as a source close to the Duke of York’s accuser, said an “arrogant” Prince Andrew woefully underestimated the severity of the case against him and the silence from his legal team was “baffling”.

As accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre takes the Duke of York to court in the United States, the future Kings have grown “increasingly concerned” about how the turmoil will engulf the monarch, who is still mourning the loss of Prince Philip.

“First and foremost, Charles and William are united; there will never be a return to public life for Andrew,” a source reportedly told the Mirror.

Prince William with his uncle, Prince Andrew. Picture: AFP

“The family also has serious and growing doubts about the way such serious allegations have been dealt with by Andrew and his legal team, who seem to be at complete odds with one another on how to respond,” the insider added.

The growing concern within the palace comes as royal aides begin to doubt the “inconsistencies” and “credibility” in Prince Andrew’s story, sources close to the royal household reportedly told The Times.

“No one at the palace knows what to believe about what Prince Andrew is telling them,” the source is quoted as saying. “Some of it doesn’t stack up. The basic problem is that he’s a massive embarrassment, but you can’t sack him.”

Prince Andrew, photographed recently on his way to Balmoral Castle where the Queen has been for the summer, has been joined by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson as his lawyers are locked in long-distance talks to “draw up their strategy for fighting the suit”, the outlet reported.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured together inside the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s. Picture: Supplied

Giuffre has repeatedly made allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, his one-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, and Prince Andrew, but the lawsuit was the first time she has confronted the Queen’s son in such a formal setting, reports Fox News.

The case alleges that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual acts without her consent, knowing how old she was and “that she was a sex-trafficking victim,” the BBC reported. The case noted that the “extreme and outrageous conduct” continues to cause Roberts Giuffre “significant emotional and psychological distress and harm.”

“In this country no person, whether president or prince, is above the law, and no person, no matter how powerless or vulnerable, can be deprived of the law’s protection,” the documents read, as quoted by the outlet.

Prince William is reportedly “concerned” for his grandmother. Picture: Getty Images

“Twenty years ago Prince Andrew’s wealth, power, position, and connections enabled him to abuse a frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her,” the documents continued. “It is long past the time for him to be held to account.”

Giuffre said in a statement she wanted to hold Andrew “accountable”, according to Fox News.

“Today my lawyer filed suit against Prince Andrew for sexual abuse under the Child Victims Act,” wrote Roberts Giuffre. “As the suit lays out in detail, I was trafficked to him and sexually abused by him.”

“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me,” she said. “The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.”

Prince Andrew with his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. Picture: AFP

“I did not come to this decision lightly,” Roberts Giuffre continued. “As a mother and a wife, my family comes first – and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates – but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down.”

Buckingham Palace has previously denied the allegations.

“It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”

Originally published as Prince William’s ‘concern’ for Queen amid Prince Andrew scandal