A campaign group says it has instructed lawyers to consider a private prosecution against Prince Andrew over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office.
Republic, a pressure group which aims to see the monarchy abolished, said it had taken the “unprecedented step” of instructing a law firm to investigate the allegations and commence a private prosecution if appropriate.
It comes amid increased pressure on the royals following renewed controversy over Andrew‘s links to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew, who has denied all allegations against him, gave up his titles earlier this month ahead of the publication of the posthumous memoirs of Virginia Giuffre.
She sued Andrew in a US court in August 2021, accusing him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions after she was introduced to him by Epstein.
In a 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Andrew said he had no knowledge of ever meeting late Ms Giuffre, claiming a well-known image of them together had been doctored.
The case was settled outside court for a sum believed to have been around £12m. Andrew continues to deny the allegations. Ms Giuffre took her own life in April.
Reports also emerged claiming Andrew asked a royal close protection officer to “dig up dirt” on Ms Giuffre. The Metropolitan Police said it is “actively looking into the claims”.
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How Prince Andrew allegations unfolded
Where could Prince Andrew move to if he leaves Royal Lodge?
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MPs demand explanation for why Andrew paid ‘peppercorn’ rent
Earlier this week, Parliament’s spending watchdog asked the Crown Estate to explain the rationale behind the prince’s “peppercorn” rent at Royal Lodge.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wrote to the Treasury and the Crown Estate after raising concerns over the value for money of the prince’s living arrangements.
The King‘s team is said to be in talks with his brother about leaving the property voluntarily.
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Andrew signed a 75-year lease in 2003 after paying an initial down payment of £1m and spent £7.5m on renovations as part of the agreement. He lives there with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
“Peppercorn rent” is a legal term used in leases to show that rent technically exists, so the lease is valid, but it’s nominal, often literally £1 a year or just a symbolic amount. In practice, it means the tenant pays no rent.
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On Monday, the King was heckled over his brother’s relationship with Epstein during a visit to Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire.
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Republic says response has not been ‘appropriate’
Republic has repeatedly called for the police to investigate and prosecute Andrew. It has also criticised the political response to the scandal surrounding the royal this week as “weak, deferential and inadequate”.
Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, told Sky News: “We just don’t believe that the response so far has been appropriate, either from the police or the politicians.
“One of the frustrations is that the whole debate around this has been about the fact that Andrew was friends with a convicted criminal, when there are clearly questions to be answered as to whether he is actually guilty of offences himself.”
Sky News has approached representatives for Prince Andrew in relation to Republic’s announcement.
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