LAWYERS have been instructed to consider a private prosecution against Prince Andrew over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office.
Revelations in the posthumous memoir of Andrew’s sex accuser, Virginia Giuffre, have placed increasing pressure on the King’s brother, who announced earlier this month he would stop using the Duke of York title.
The prince was revealed to have stayed in contact with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein even after his first sex offence conviction and was alleged in Giuffre’s memoir to have had sex with her on three separate occasions.
Anti-monarchy group Republic has criticised the political response to the scandal as “weak, deferential, and inadequate” and has now instructed a law firm to investigate and, if appropriate, commence a private prosecution.
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Republic's CEO Graham Smith said he believes there is enough evidence to justify a serious investigation.
He said: "If not us, then who?
“It's a devastating indictment on the UK's criminal justice system, police and politicians – not to mention the king and heir – that we must resort to a private prosecution.
"It should be a cause for concern that so many people believe – rightly in my view – that the royals are not treated equally in law.
“Equality in law is a basic tenet of democracy. 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."
A wide-ranging poll last week showed that 76% of people in the UK do not believe the royals are treated equally under the law.
So far, the UK Government has refused to allocate time in the Commons to debate Andrew’s conduct. Legislation is required to officially remove the dukedom from the prince even though he has said he will no longer use the title.
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The Government is unwilling to table a motion to discuss Andrew, saying the royal family wishes parliament to focus on “important issues”.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell introduced legislation last week which would grant King Charles the power to remove titles, but the bill stands little chance of becoming law without UK Government support.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said there was no ban on MPs discussing the conduct of a member of the royal family but it would have to be on a “substantive motion” rather than during regular question time sessions.
Prince Andrew’s use of Royal Lodge has also come in for huge scrutiny given he has not paid rent on the 30-bedroom mansion since 2003.
There have been reports the King is planning to send Andrew to the Castle of Mey, which was bought by The Queen Mother in 1952.
Carbisdale Castle owner Samantha Kane also stepped in to offer Andrew a place to stay, but she later suggested the offer was “not workable” given the public backlash it sparked.
Under the Crown Estates Act 1961, the Crown Estate Commissioners has a legal obligation to manage land owned by the royal family to the “best consideration in money or money’s worth which in their opinion can be reasonably obtained”.
MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), has questioned the Treasury and the CEC on whether Andrew’s continued use of the residence provides the “best value” for taxpayers’ money amid “disturbing” allegations about the disgraced prince from Giuffre.
Andrew paid the late Giuffre an out of court settlement reported to be £12m in 2022 after she accused him of sexual assault but has denied all wrongdoing – and even having met her.
UPDATE: This story previously named the law firm instructed to look at the prosecution. The National has since learned that the contract was not yet finalised and the law firm is subject to change, so we have removed the name.
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