In recent years, the life of Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's third son, has been full of controversy. Sex scandals and a close relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein are just two of the situations that have drawn global attention to the member of the British royal family. Unlike his previous prominent position, Andrew no longer attends official engagements, although he is still considered “part of the family,” according to UOL.
Andrew and royal roles
Given the controversies that have marked his recent career, Andrew is unlikely to resume his royal duties. However, he has been spotted with his family at celebrations such as Christmas and more recently on a church outing in Scotland with Prince William.
“When it comes to a public function [Andrew], there is no turning back. It has always been agreed that Andrew could attend family and private events, as is his right, but not public or official ones. Nothing has changed,” a source told DailyMail.
“Scoop,” a film about Andrew’s controversial interview
Another situation that must shake the prince's life is the production of the film “Scoop”. There is no publication date yet, but the work will deal with Andrew's controversial interview for the BBC about the Epstein case, which many consider to be “catastrophic”. The film's cast includes Rufus Sewell, known for his performance in City of Shadows, as Andrew and Gillian Anderson, who played Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, as journalist Emily Maitlis.
The allegations against Andrew
In the Epstein case, documents mention allegations that a minor was forced by the tycoon to have sex with Prince Andrew. The abuse allegedly occurred at socialite Ghislaine Maxwell's London home and on Epstein's private island during an orgy with several underage girls.
Additionally, another alleged victim, Johanna Sjoberg, claimed that Andrew groped her breast during a photo shoot where she sat on his lap. Other documents indicated that Sarah Ransome, who also claims to be a victim of Epstein, claimed that there were intimate videos with Andrew, Bill Clinton and British businessman Richard Branson, who had sexual relations with one of her friends. However, Ransome reportedly admitted to the New Yorker that he “made up the recordings to draw attention to Epstein's behavior.”
Given all this controversy, Prince Andrew's future seems uncertain in terms of his involvement with the royal family and public opinion.