Reports indicate that the late Queen Elizabeth II did not believe the allegations of misconduct against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Virginia Giuffre had accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her in 2001 when she was 17 and a victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring. Despite Andrew’s denials, the case was settled in a New York City court for around £12 million.
Even though Andrew faced scrutiny for his association with Epstein, including a controversial interview on Newsnight with Emily Maitlis, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly did not believe the accusations against her son. The Queen passed away in September 2022, shortly after the settlement of the Giuffre case, where she allegedly provided financial assistance. Andrew, 66, has consistently maintained his innocence.
Following the Queen’s death, the release of Epstein files intensified the spotlight on Andrew, leading King Charles to strip him of his royal titles and residency at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Charles acknowledged the distress caused to his mother by the crisis but noted her refusal to accept the allegations.
Royal author Hugo Vickers revealed in his upcoming book that the Queen had reservations about Andrew’s conduct, which troubled her in her final years. Vickers mentioned a plan to establish a foundation for Andrew’s future endeavors.
Despite the controversies, Andrew attended the Queen’s state funeral, where thousands of mourners, including world leaders, royals, and NHS staff, gathered at Westminster Abbey. Despite losing his royal titles, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.
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