Prince Andrew must not duck questions over paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein
I ONLY had the misfortune to come across Prince Andrew the once – and that was more than enough. He was rude and boorish, with a breathtaking and unpleasant sense of entitlement.
While the rest of the Royal Family go out of their way to be polite and pleasant to us mere peasants, he appeared to take great joy in making me feel uncomfortable. Well, now it’s his turn to squirm.
I have no idea of his exact involvement with the hideous pervert Jeffrey Epstein during their “friendship”, but this week one of Epstein’s alleged victims claimed she had sex with Andrew three times. Virginia Roberts, photographed being embraced by the prince when she was a teenager, claimed he “knows exactly what he has done” and should “come clean” about it.
The waters are being muddied with claims by “friends” of Andrew the photo is fake. He strenuously denies any wrongdoing but this story is not going to go away and people are demanding answers.
Epstein hanged himself in his New York jail cell this month while on sex-trafficking charges — and sparked conspiracy theories galore.
Andrew claims he knew nothing about Epstein’s disgusting lifestyle, but it is baffling that he continued to associate with him even after Epstein’s conviction in 2008 for procuring an underage girl for prostitution, making him a registered sex offender.
RICH AND DUBIOUS
Why on Earth would anyone continue to hang out with such an unsavoury character, especially if, like Andrew, you are a dad with two daughters of your own? At the very least this scandal shows that Andrew has appalling judgment when it comes to his pals and associates.
He has previous when it comes to cosying up to the rich and dubious. Questions were asked when Andrew sold his run-down “Southyork” mansion to a Kazakh oligarch in 2007 for millions over the asking price.
Again, he denied any wrongdoing and the scandal went away. That might not be the case this time around. He’s very lucky that the Queen continues to stand by him. Andrew is always cited as her favourite child and Her Majesty accepts her son’s vehement denials when it comes to Epstein.
He also has the full support of ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who knows all too well what it is like to be caught up in a scandal. She was apparently financially “assisted” by Epstein, something she now regrets.
Sarah and Andrew have been lying low on holiday together, sparking rumours they are back together. But even this odd couple realised Andrew playing his usual rounds of golf in the Spanish sunshine looked callous.
SEXUAL PREDATOR
They are back for “crisis talks” and I don’t envy the royal advisers who have to try to spin this one. No one is saying Andrew has committed any sort of crime, but anything that has Epstein’s grubby fingerprints all over it inevitably reeks to high heaven.
And the Prince has done his reputation irreparable harm by his association with such a contemptible sexual predator. We are light years away from the dashing young prince who won the respect and admiration of the British public for his role in the Falklands War.
He has never reached the heady heights of that level of popularity since, and clearly he never will again. But he could redeem himself by at least being willing to answer questions from investigators in the States.
Being a royal should not mean he is above helping law enforcement. It might be embarrassing and uncomfortable — but if Andrew has done nothing wrong, he has nothing to worry about.
Cath's time to Tango
NEVER mind the nights drawing in, you know our summer days are numbered when Strictly rears its sequinned head. This year has the potential to be a classic.
I always look forward to seeing the celebs step into the spray tan booth, embrace the glitz and rhinestones and unleash their inner divas. But my ones-to-watch this year have actually already found theirs.
Michelle Visage from Ru Paul’s Drag Race and ex-Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley both have big personalities, raucous laughs and are women after my own heart.
Michelle has been very open about her struggles with an eating disorder, and recently had her breast implants removed due to health concerns. She’s a fierce campaigner for more understanding about the side-effects of breast enhancement ops.
Catherine has always wanted to be a dancer but said this week that being overweight as a youngster scuppered her chances of tripping the light fantastic.
She famously lost 6st and promotes sensible eating and exercise as the only way to shed weight, which is something I’ve been banging on about forever. Both are at the top of their game and raring to go.
They will burn up the dancefloor and provide us with some memorable moments . . . but as they are both happily married, these will all thankfully be Strictly confined to the ballroom floor.
BA chiefs letting us down
WHAT in the name of Rule Britannia is going on with British Airways? They are lurching from crisis to crisis, with computer glitches and strikes almost becoming the norm.
Last week I had to cancel a long-awaited trip to Orkney because of the proposed industrial action next month by BA pilots, after receiving an email to say my flight had been axed. With a heavy heart, I apologetically cancelled the glorious Foveran Hotel, our car hire and the babysitter for our dog/son Angus.
The next day another computer-generated email popped up telling me that actually the flight wasn’t cancelled after all. Oops, and all that. Now I’ve been trying to get some clarity from the BA hotline for days – with no joy.
I’m reluctant to rebook everything in case it all goes t*ts-up again and they cancel the flights for a second time. It’s infuriating, stressful and upsetting. Behind every cancelled or delayed flight are heartbreaking stories of people missing weddings, hospital visits, funerals and job interviews.
DISTRAUGHT AND ANGRY
Can I stress emphatically that, in my experience, BA staff at the check-in coal face, who have to deal with distraught and angry passengers when flights are cancelled or delayed, deserve a blinking medal for their patience and forbearance in dealing with the recent avalanche of almighty management cock-ups.
Likewise, those battling valiantly in customer service, and all of the stalwart cabin crew, especially those with years of experience who are unfailingly professional, caring and kind.
They are being as badly let down as us passengers, and it’s depressing to see a once proud and noble British brand shooting itself in the foot.
Those at the very top really don’t deserve their hardworking staff and they also have to stop taking us customers for granted.
Cheers!
NORMALLY I view those “scientific studies” about the benefits or detriments of certain food and drink with folded arms and a very sceptical: “Aye, right.”
It might, however, be worth paying attention to the very latest one which concludes that red wine really is good for you.
We already knew about the benefits for your heart, but now it turns out red wine could improve digestion and protect you against issues with high cholesterol.
I reckon the men and women in white lab coats have a point.
Cheers!
Celebrate our so-called flaws
I’VE been lucky enough to have spent the past couple of weeks travelling around Rajasthan in India.
I happily scoffed some form of curry three times a day for every meal and guzzled very impressive Indian wine.
I’m now addicted to dosa with daal and spicy mint sauce for breakfast – followed throughout the day by chilli paneer and laal maas all washed down with endless cups of masala tea.
Halfway through the trip, I rather naively posted a snap of myself, right, taken by the pool during our stay in Shahpura Bagh, on the way to Jodhpur. It showed that my excess holiday baggage had mainly landed around my tummy.
Some people were very kind about my 59-year-old unfiltered, non- Photoshopped body, my make-up-free face and flyaway hair. Others not so much.
All I wanted to do was show that you don’t have to be body perfect to wear a bikini and smile in the sunshine when you are on holiday.
We shouldn’t feel embarrassed about a few lumps and bumps or scars and blemishes and we need to stop beating ourselves up all the time and learn to celebrate our so-called flaws. Life really is too short.
Grow the hell up
SHAME on all of those chortling at little Prince George because he is taking ballet lessons. I’m sure none of the mockers have ever actually met a male ballet dancer.
MOST READ IN OPINION
Those fellas are as tough as nails.
They can beat a bully into a pulp with one flick of their sinewy wrists. They are mentally and physically fiercely strong.
I can’t think of a better way for the future king to learn discipline, teamwork and how to push himself to the limit. All of you sniggering in the back should grow the hell up.
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