Copyright dailystar
Prince Andrew could face a private prosecution over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office. Campaign group Republic says it is looking into possible legal proceedings in the wake of the Virginia Giuffre scandal. The anti-monarchist organisation said it had taken the “unprecedented step” of instructing a law firm to investigate the prince. The Royal gave up his titles earlier this month ahead of the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous book Nobody’s Girl. She sued Andrew in a US court in 2021, accusing him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions after she was introduced to him by Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York denies the allegations and maintains he has never met Virginia. The case was settled outside court for a sum believed to have been around £12million. Andrew has also been accused of asking a royal close protection officer to investigate Ms Giuffre, who died in April aged 41. The Metropolitan Police said it is “actively looking into the claims”. It is also believed Republic is focusing on allegations relating to alleged impropriety when Andrew served as an official UK trade envoy. Republic’s CEO, Graham Smith, said that justice “must be seen to be done”. He said: “‘If not us, then who? It’s a devastating indictment on the UK’s criminal justice system… that we must resort to a private prosecution. “I firmly believe there is strong enough evidence to justify a serious investigation. “The authorities and politicians appear to want to look the other way, while minimising the accusations made against Andrew. ‘The truth must prevail and justice must be seen to be done.” This week parliament’s spending watchdog wrote to the Crown Estate to raise concerns over the “value for money” of Prince Andrew’s living arrangements. Pressure has been mounting on the King’s brother to vacate the Royal Lodge amid continuing furore over his “peppercorn” rent on the Windsor estate.
