{"id":2282593,"date":"2026-02-15T06:06:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T06:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2282593"},"modified":"2026-02-15T06:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T06:06:39","slug":"andrew-has-brought-the-royals-to-a-tipping-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/andrew-has-brought-the-royals-to-a-tipping-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew has brought the royals to a tipping point"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"is_ArticleHeader _pr-_md_t-space-24 _pl-_md_t-space-24 _gap-_lg_t-space-24 _pt-_lg_t-space-40 _pb-_lg_t-space-40 _width-_lg_calc100dvw-1768157140 _pr-_xxl_t-space-48 _pl-_xxl_t-space-48 _width-_xxl_calc100dvw-1052050763 _maxW-_xxl_calc1344px-1052050763 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _self-center _flexDirection-column _gap-t-space-16 _pr-t-space-16 _pl-t-space-16 _pt-t-space-24 _pb-t-space-24 _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-row _justify-space-betwe3241 _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"_gap-_lg_t-space-8 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column _gap-t-space-4\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-7048 _fs-f-size-16 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500603 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal _tt-capitalize\">Opinion and ideas<\/p>\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonDoric _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500599 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Sunday 15 February 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_H5 font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-22 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500608 _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _select-auto _ws-normal _ff-f-family _col-text_primar121 _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-20 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605\">With no good outcome likely for the former Prince in the Epstein scandal, the House of Windsor could finally fall apart<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div role=\"figure\" data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _maxW-t-size-maxC929822992 _gap-t-space-16 _width-10037\"><\/p>\n<p role=\"note\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonDoric _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500599 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal _width-10037 _pr-t-space-16 _pl-t-space-16\">Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts (later, Virginia Giuffre) and Ghislaine Maxwell, 2001<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"is_ArticleContainer _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column\">\n<div class=\"is_ArticleBody _width-_md_10037 _flexDirection-_lg_row _gap-_lg_t-space-24 _pt-_lg_t-space-40 _pr-_xxl_t-space-48 _pl-_xxl_t-space-48 _maxW-_xxl_1344px _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column _pr-t-space-16 _pl-t-space-16 _pt-t-space-24 _pb-t-space-24 _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"is_ArticleContent _gap-_lg_t-space-24 _flexDirection-_xxl_row _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _width-10037 _pb-t-space-16 _gap-t-space-16 _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_gap-_md_t-space-24 _gap-_xxl_t-space-32 _width-_xxl_270px _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column _width-10037 _gap-t-space-16\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column _pos-relative _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"is_BylineContainer _dsp-flex _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-row _items-center _self-stretch _width-10037 _gap-t-space-12 _pb-t-space-16\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _width-t-size-80 _height-t-size-80 _btlr-t-radius-40 _btrr-t-radius-40 _borderBottomRightRadius-t-radius-40 _borderBottomLeftRadius-t-radius-40 _ox-hidden _oy-hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Will Hutton\" sizes=\"80px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.480x0_q70.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.768x0_q70.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.960x0_q70.webp 960w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.1280x0_q70.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.1440x0_q70.webp 1440w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.1920x0_q70.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk\/media\/original_images\/Will_Hutton_89b5d3373f9b4c1bbca38fdf9f3a33b41c2e978e_A1J98LL.jpg.2500x0_q70.webp 2500w\" style=\"max-height:800px;height:100%;width:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:center\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"is_BylineText font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _col-text_primar121 _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500600\">Will Hutton<\/span><span class=\"is_BylineText font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _col-text_primar121 _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500600 _fst-italic\">Columnist<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"t_sub_theme t_Button _dsp_contents is_Theme\" style=\"color:var(--color)\"><button data-disable-theme=\"true\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Button _bg-0hover-orange_700 _dsp-flex _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _shrink-0 _col-c-white _flexDirection-row _justify-center _minW-t-size-56 _pr-t-space-20 _pl-t-space-20 _pt-t-space-8 _pb-t-space-8 _cur-pointer _bg-orange_600 _btlr-0px _btrr-0px _borderBottomRightRadius-0px _borderBottomLeftRadius-0px _items-center\" style=\"flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;align-items:center;align-self:flex-start;gap:0px;padding-right:24px;padding-left:24px;padding-top:12px;padding-bottom:12px;margin-top:var(--t-space-16);margin-bottom:var(--t-space-16);border-top-color:var(--seville_primary);border-right-color:var(--seville_primary);border-bottom-color:var(--seville_primary);border-left-color:var(--seville_primary);background-color:var(--background_primary);border-top-left-radius:30px;border-top-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-right-radius:30px;border-bottom-left-radius:30px;border-top-width:1px;border-right-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-top-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-right-style:solid\"><svg width=\"16\" height=\"20\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 20\" fill=\"none\" color=\"#C85000\"><path d=\"M16 9V20H0V9H2V18H14V9H16ZM7 3.91V14.5H9V3.91L13.04 7.95L14.45 6.54L8 0L1.54 6.54L2.95 7.95L7 3.91Z\" fill=\"#C85000\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"is_Spacer _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-11--88px _shrink-0 _pe-none _width-11--88px _height-0px\"\/><\/p>\n<p tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-16 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500603 _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500600 _col-c-seville_p930930286 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Share<\/p>\n<p><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"is_ArticleText _pr-_lg_t-space-16 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _flexDirection-column _shrink-1 _gap-t-space-16 _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal drop-cap-paragraph\">The institution suffering the most existential threat from the <a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/news\/columnists\/article\/the-epstein-files-reveal-more-than-depravity-they-unmask-how-the-elite-operates\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> papers is not within or part of the American political system: it is the British monarchy. It has survived unscathed the 1936 abdication crisis and the divorce and death of \ufeffDiana, Princess of Wales in the 1990s, but the <a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/news\/international\/article\/andrews-emails-shoot-down-his-newsnight-claim-to-have-cut-ties-with-epstein\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor<\/a> affair trumps them all. It threatens to shatter the carefully constructed story on which the appeal and legitimacy of the House of Windsor depends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Universal suffrage and massive social change were potentially the twin death\ufeff knells of the monarchy as Britain entered the 20th century. Political and constitutional status should be earned through votes rather than ascribed through birth. In 1911, the Parliament Act stripped the House of Lords, then entirely populated by hereditary peers, of its veto powers; Britain\u2019s bi\ufeffcameral parliament of two equal houses \u2013 one hereditary \u2013 was dead. How long would it be before the monarchy followed suit?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">But by redefining itself as an extended family committed to public service with only a performative constitutional role, and playing down the hereditary nature of their legitimacy, the royals have dodged the bullet. The Duke of Windsor and the Prince of Wales loving the wrong woman were understandable crises that could hit any family; many could sympathise. The royal family was proving it was as human as everyone else\ufeff.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\"><a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/culture\/architecture\/article\/how-will-we-remember-queen-elizabeth-ii\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">Elizabeth\ufeff II<\/a>\u2019s obvious decency and unflagging commitment to duty, while simultaneously symbolically ensuring that her whole family joined her on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, sealed the deal. She was our \ufeffqueen, certainly; but she was also a wife, mother and sister. Prince Philip was the perfect foil: a consort, father and prince \u2013 but never a co-monarch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Now one of the brood he fathered threatens to bring down the whole house of cards. Andrew\u2019s firm friendship with Epstein was in full swing by 1999. Now that Andrew was divorced, Epstein, a supreme networker, opened doors\ufeff and offered him introductions to women (and money to his ex-wife) in exchange \ufefffor bathing in the halo of royalty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">In 2001, a photo was taken of Andrew with Virginia \ufeffGiuffre\ufeff, who allege\ufeffd they had sex three times, which Andrew has consistently denied. In 2022, he paid a reported \u00a312\ufeffm to her, a woman who he said he could not recall ever meeting.\ufeff Most of the cash is said to have come from his mother and \ufefffather\u2019s estate, with the balance topped up by other family members. \ufeff<a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/tags\/king-charles-iii\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">King Charles<\/a> denies he contributed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Up until the recent round of disclosures, the family had kept ahead of the scandal; stripping Andrew of his title and insisting he move out of the grace and favour Royal Lodge in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, complete with his collection of \ufeff72 teddy bears. Now there are three more elements to the story that cumulatively could present an unmanageable tipping point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">First\ufeff, as Gordon Brown \ufeffset out powerfully in \ufefflast week\u2019s <i class=\"font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _col-inherit _ff-f-family _fst-italic\">New Statesman<\/i>, the latest bout of evidence reveals the mind-boggling scale of Epstein\u2019s trafficking of young women, many under\ufeffage, for sex \u2013 which seems part of this evil global business. There were an estimated 90 flights from the UK alone, of which at least 15 took place after Epstein\u2019s 2008 conviction, including British girls as passengers and others from round Europe. Andrew must, insists the former prime \ufeffminister, given the scale and extent of harm that has and is being done, be questioned by police to reveal all that he knows.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Second\ufeff, as the BBC has set out vividly in a \ufeffsuccinct, short, <a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/iplayer\/episode\/l0057yyb\/the-epstein-files-reexamining-andrews-newsnight-interview\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">seven-minute report<\/a>, Andrew plainly lied to Emily Maitlis in the infamous 2019 BBC <a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/news\/international\/article\/andrews-emails-shoot-down-his-newsnight-claim-to-have-cut-ties-with-epstein\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-18 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-inherit _col-orange_600 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\" style=\"font-weight:var(--f-weight-300)\">Newsnight<\/a> interview. His relationship with Epstein was much more extensive and went on far longer than he acknowledged, and in which misogynistic male joshing over sex \u2013 \u201cplay some more soon\u201d or Epstein promising him dinner with a beautiful Russian 26-year-old who was \u201ctrustworthy\u201d \u2013 was integral. Andrew knows much more than he has let on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_pr-_xl_t-space-64 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-row _width-10037 _pt-t-space-32 _pb-t-space-32\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _flexDirection-column _shrink-1 _gap-t-space-8\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<p><h4 role=\"heading\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_H4 font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-26 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500634 _dsp-_md_none _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _select-auto _ws-normal _ff-f-family _col-text_primar121 _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-22 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500608 _dsp-flex\">Charles has to be brutal. He has to urge an inquiry and insist Andrew testifies<\/h4>\n<h3 role=\"heading\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_H3 font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-28 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500636 _dsp-_md_flex _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _select-auto _ws-normal _ff-f-family _col-text_primar121 _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-26 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500634 _dsp-none\">Charles has to be brutal. He has to urge an inquiry and insist Andrew testifies<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Last,\ufeff was his ready and speedy passporting to Epstein of classified papers from his work as trade envoy,\ufeff for potential commercial advantage. This must be investigated as potential misconduct in public office, for which the penalty involves a lengthy prison sentence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _width-10037\">\n<div class=\"_pt-_lg_48px _pb-_lg_48px _pr-_lg_48px _pl-_lg_48px _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-column _self-center _width-10037 _gap-t-space-8 _pt-24px _pb-24px _pr-24px _pl-24px\">\n<p><h3 role=\"heading\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_H5 font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-22 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500608 _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _select-auto _ws-normal _ff-f-family _col-text_primar121 _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fs-f-size-20 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _fw-f-weight-7048\">Newsletters<\/h3>\n<h4 role=\"heading\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_H5 font_caslonIonic _fs-_lg_f-size-22 _lh-_lg_f-lineHeigh3500608 _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _select-auto _ws-normal _ff-f-family _col-text_primar121 _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-20 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605\">Choose the newsletters you want to receive<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"_gap-_lg_t-space-24 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexDirection-row _fwr-wrap _mt-t-space-16 _mr--4px _ml--4px _gap-t-space-8\">\n<div class=\"_flexBasis-_lg_10037 _flexBasis-_xl_10037 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexBasis-10037\">\n<div class=\"_pr-_lg_t-space-16 _pl-_lg_t-space-16 _pt-_lg_t-space-16 _pb-_lg_t-space-16 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _width-10037 _bg-F0C8AA35 _pr-t-space-8 _pl-t-space-8 _pt-t-space-8 _pb-t-space-16 _grow-1\"><button aria-label=\"Toggle Daily Sensemaker newsletter subscription\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"css-175oi2r r-1loqt21 r-1otgn73\" style=\"flex:1\" data-testid=\"comms-opt-button\" type=\"button\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_items-_xl_flex-start _dsp-flex _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-row _gap-t-space-8 _items-center _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _gap-t-space-8 _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-_xl_none _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _dsp-none _mb-t-space-8\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-_xl_block _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-33333335 _select-auto _ws-normal _dsp-none _text-left _shrink-1\">Clear, calm analysis on the stories driving the day\u2019s news.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_flexBasis-_lg_10037 _flexBasis-_xl_10037 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexBasis-10037\">\n<div class=\"_pr-_lg_t-space-16 _pl-_lg_t-space-16 _pt-_lg_t-space-16 _pb-_lg_t-space-16 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _width-10037 _bg-F0EAE635 _pr-t-space-8 _pl-t-space-8 _pt-t-space-8 _pb-t-space-16 _grow-1\"><button aria-label=\"Toggle The Observer Daily newsletter subscription\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"css-175oi2r r-1loqt21 r-1otgn73\" style=\"flex:1\" data-testid=\"comms-opt-button\" type=\"button\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_items-_xl_flex-start _dsp-flex _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-row _gap-t-space-8 _items-center _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _gap-t-space-8 _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-_xl_none _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _dsp-none _mb-t-space-8\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-_xl_block _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-33333335 _select-auto _ws-normal _dsp-none _text-left _shrink-1\">The very best of our journalism, reviews and ideas \u2013 curated each day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_flexBasis-_lg_10037 _flexBasis-_xl_10037 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _flexBasis-10037\">\n<div class=\"_pr-_lg_t-space-16 _pl-_lg_t-space-16 _pt-_lg_t-space-16 _pb-_lg_t-space-16 _dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _width-10037 _bg-E0E00A35 _pr-t-space-8 _pl-t-space-8 _pt-t-space-8 _pb-t-space-16 _grow-1\"><button aria-label=\"Toggle Food Weekly newsletter subscription\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"css-175oi2r r-1loqt21 r-1otgn73\" style=\"flex:1\" data-testid=\"comms-opt-button\" type=\"button\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"_items-_xl_flex-start _dsp-flex _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-row _gap-t-space-8 _items-center _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-flex _items-stretch _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-1 _flexDirection-column _gap-t-space-8 _grow-1\">\n<div class=\"_dsp-_xl_none _items-stretch _flexDirection-column _flexBasis-auto _bxs-border-box _pos-relative _minH-0px _minW-0px _shrink-0 _dsp-none _mb-t-space-8\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-_xl_block _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-33333335 _select-auto _ws-normal _dsp-none _text-left _shrink-1\">A dispatch from The Observer\u2019s kitchen table \u2013 from Nigel Slater\u2019s recipes to interviews, features and hot tips.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/newsletters\" class=\"is_Anchor font_body _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _fs-f-size-true _cur-pointer _col-color _td-none is_ButtonUnderlined \" style=\"display:inline-flex;color:var(--text_primary);align-items:center;margin-top:var(--t-space-8);margin-bottom:var(--t-space-16);cursor:pointer;align-self:flex-start\"\/><\/p>\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonDoric _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-4048 _fs-f-size-14 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500599 _col-text_primar121 _select-auto _ws-normal _borderBottomColor-seville_pri3344091 _borderBottomWidth-1px _pb-16px _borderBottomStyle-solid\">For information about how The Observer protects your data, read our <a target=\"_blank\" role=\"link\" aria-label=\"Privacy Policy Link\" href=\"https:\/\/observer.co.uk\/policy\/privacy\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Anchor font_caslonDoric _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _cur-pointer _fs-f-size-14 _lh-inherit _ff-f-family _col-orange_600 _fw-f-weight-4048 _textDecorationColor-orange_600 _td-underline _textDecorationStyle-solid\">Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">The tale of the royals as a family is coming apart: Prince Harry is estranged\ufeff and there is no good outcome to the Andrew affair. To escape investigation and potential prosecution would be as odious as serving time. Here, Charles and the prime minister have to be brutal. The line that Charles will support the police in any inquiry is not good enough; he must urge an inquiry, insist Andrew testifies to the US Congress and require him to live with the consequences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">As matters stand, nobody can know, given the permitted opacity of the \ufeffcrown\u2019s finances, how Andrew could find \u00a312m so quickly and from whom. Charles\u2019s wealth is estimated at \u00a3640m, but if all the property, palaces, \ufeffassets and the Duchy of Lancaster are included, it could top \u00a32bn. It is time light was shone on all \ufeffthis, with the \ufeffcrown paying taxes on the same terms as every other citizen. The \ufeffroyal \ufefffamily should never have had the scale of undisclosed, untaxed resources\ufeff to bail out one of its own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\">Equally, our constitution needs a root and branch overhaul. There are too many monarchical legacy overtones \u2013 ministers swearing fealty to the crown and not the people, Henry VIII\u2019s powers, royal assent to laws, the crazed system of freehold and leasehold property tenure \u2013 that need reform or abolition. If Britain is to continue with a monarchy, it needs to be more transparent, less grandiose, less expensive and with a radically scaled-back, formal constitutional role, however performative \u2013 a direction of travel Prince Will\ufeffiam seems ready to entertain. On the 250-year anniversary of US independence, paradoxically, it could be Britain that lives democratic values better than its former American colonies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"html\">\n<div class=\"css-175oi2r\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<p role=\"text\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"is_Paragraph font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _ff-f-family _fw-f-weight-3048 _fs-f-size-18 _lh-f-lineHeigh3500605 _col-grey_600 _select-auto _ws-normal\"><i class=\"font_caslonIonic _dsp-inline _bxs-border-box _ww-break-word _ws-pre-wrap _mt-0px _mr-0px _mb-0px _ml-0px _col-inherit _ff-f-family _fst-italic\">Photograph by\u00a0Capital Pictures<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source observer.co.uk \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opinion and ideas Sunday 15 February 2026 With no good outcome likely for the former Prince in the Epstein scandal, the House of Windsor could finally fall apart Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts (later, Virginia Giuffre) and Ghislaine Maxwell, 2001 Will HuttonColumnist Share The institution suffering the most existential threat from the Jeffrey Epstein papers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2282594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[409826,22942,183049,22931,27155],"class_list":["post-2282593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty","tag-gordon-brown","tag-jeffrey-epstein","tag-king-charles-iii","tag-prince-andrew","tag-royals"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Andrew-has-brought-the-royals-to-a-tipping-point.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2282593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2282593"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2282593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2282595,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2282593\/revisions\/2282595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2282594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2282593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2282593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2282593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}