Virginia Giuffre would have viewed Prince Andrew relinquishing use of his Duke of York title as a victory, the co-author of her posthumous memoir has said, as it emerged the prince has paid no rent on his 30-bedroom mansion for more than 20 years.
Andrew announced on Friday that he has given up use of his royal titles and honours amid intensified focus on his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and days before the publication of his sex accuser Giuffre’s book.
The prince vehemently denies the allegations that Giuffre was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein.
On the subject of Andrew stopping using his titles, co-writer of Nobody’s Girl, Amy Wallace, told BBC Newsnight that Giuffre “would view it as a victory that he was forced by whatever means to voluntarily give them up”.
“For many, maybe particularly in the United States, but maybe even in the UK, it’s a symbolic gesture – but it’s an important one.
“It’s made history, modern history, in terms of the royal era.
“I mean, I’ve never heard of such a thing happening and it also is just a step in the right direction.
“Virginia wanted all the men who she’d been trafficked to against her will to be held to account and this is just one of the men but … even though he continues to deny it, his life is being eroded because of his past behaviour as it should be.”
Andrew’s announcement on Friday has raised many questions, including whether he should have the right to continue living at the Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor.
A copy of the leasehold agreement, shared by the Crown Estate, which oversees the royal family’s land and property holdings, shows Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003.
It reveals he paid £1m for the lease and that since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per year.
He was also required to pay a further £7.5m for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
The agreement also contains a clause which states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease.
It was reported in November last year that the King had withdrawn Andrew’s annual £1m “living allowance”.
Royal writer Robert Hardman wrote in his book that the keeper of the privy purse was “instructed to sever his living allowance” after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the Royal Lodge into the nearby smaller Frogmore Cottage.
Asked whether the King’s brother should be allowed to keep living at the property, children and families minister Josh MacAlister told Times Radio on Monday morning: “You’ll understand why a government minister isn’t going to get into second-guessing what Buckingham Palace and the King may decide.
“I imagine over the course of this week there may be lots of questions about arrangements for Prince Andrew.”
Also in the wake of her memoir, Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law, Sky and Amanda Roberts, have called on the police watchdog to review the decision by the Metropolitan Police not to continue its investigations into her allegations against Andrew.
In an interview for Channel 4 News, they urged the force to reopen their probe into Giuffre’s claim that she was forced to have sex with the royal when she was aged 17, adding that if the police would not take action, they felt the Independent Office for Police Conduct should review the decision.
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