The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, is set to be excluded from all of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee events following a U.S. judge’s decision that could potentially clash with the royal celebrations.
This upcoming week marks a significant moment in Prince Andrew’s ongoing entanglement with the convicted s– offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Tomorrow, details of a previous settlement between Epstein and Virginia Roberts Jufri, who alleges she was a victim of s– trafficking by Epstein, will be disclosed.
Jufri is currently pursuing legal action against Andrew for s–ual assault in a civil lawsuit in the United States.
It has been reported that Prince Andrew, aged 61, will not join his mother, the Queen, and other senior royals such as his brother Charles and nephew William on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for an RAF flypast.
Furthermore, he is expected to be absent from all events next summer.
District Judge Louis Kaplan, serving in the Southern District of New York, has mandated that depositions must be finalized by July 14.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are scheduled for June, potentially leading to a clash with Andrew’s legal proceedings over the summer.
Sources revealed to The Sun that Prince Andrew is to be withdrawn from all Platinum Jubilee festivities, with plans for him to remain inconspicuous during the celebrations.
Despite these claims, Prince Andrew vehemently denies the allegations brought against him.
His legal team asserts that Jufri had previously agreed to a settlement with Epstein that included a clause preventing her from pursuing legal action against any of Epstein’s associates.
The sealed settlement reached between Ms. Jufri and Epstein in 2009 will be unveiled tomorrow following a court order by U.S. judges.
On January 4, Judge Louis Kaplan is scheduled to determine whether the case will proceed to trial.
Speculation suggests that the case will indeed go to trial, as Judge Kaplan had expressed a desire for a trial to take place later in 2022.
Concerns have arisen within the palace that Andrew’s trial may overshadow the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, marking her 70th year on the throne with a four-day weekend in June filled with street parties, a grand concert at Buckingham Palace, and a jubilee pageant.
Royal editor Russell Myers highlighted the apprehension within the palace walls regarding the potential overshadowing of the celebrations by Andrew’s trial.
While jubilees typically involve royal tours and public engagements with the entire family, this year, Prince Andrew is expected to be notably absent from public events.
Myers emphasized that Andrew will be excluded from public outings and the balcony, stating that there is still much uncertainty surrounding the situation, given the significance of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Virginia Roberts Jufri has accused Prince Andrew of assaulting her on three separate occasions in 2001 when she was 17 years old.
The alleged incidents took place at Gislaine Maxwell’s London residence, Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, and Epstein’s Little St. James Island estate.
Jufri filed her lawsuit against the Duke in the Southern District Court of New York in August under the state’s Child Victims Act.
Andrew has consistently refuted the accusations, claiming no recollection of meeting Jufri.
His lawyer, Andrew Brettler, dismissed the case as baseless, citing jurisdictional arguments.
Despite the lack of charges against Prince Andrew, his association with Epstein has tarnished his reputation significantly.
Following his denial of the accusations in a Newsnight interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis in November 2019, Andrew faced criticism for his perceived lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and his handling of the situation.
The fallout from the interview raised questions about Andrew’s relationship with Epstein and the impact it could have on the royal family’s image.
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