Grenadier Guards officers ‘are ‘uncomfortable at having to drink to the health of Prince Andrew’ – as first veteran goes on the record saying he should step down as regiment’s Colonel ahead of key court battle
- Grenadier Guards are ‘uncomfortable’ at drinking to the health of Prince Andrew
- ‘Prince Andrew will put a stain on the regiment’s proud history’ said one veteran
- A civil lawsuit against him by Virginia Roberts reaches a key juncture tomorrow
- A confidential 2009 deal between Ms Roberts and Epstein is set to be unsealed
- Prince Andrew’s lawyers hope the deal’s contents will block further litigation
Grenadier Guards officers ‘are uncomfortable having to drink to the health of Prince Andrew at the end of regimental dinners’ it is revealed – as the first veteran goes on the record saying he should step down as regiment’s Colonel ahead of key court battle in New York.
Prince Andrew, 61, inherited his ceremonial role as colonel of the regiment from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2017.
He is now facing renewed pressure to give up his military titles after his former friend Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of child sex-trafficking for her partner sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Times reports.
Prince Andrew, 61, inherited his ceremonial role as colonel of the Grenadier Guards from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2017
‘Prince Andrew will put a stain on the regiment’s proud history’ said veteran Julian Perreira
The Duke of York, in his role as colonel of the Grenadier Guards, lays a wreath at the Charles II memorial in Bruges in 2019
Former lance sergeant and three-time veteran of Afghanistan, Julian Perreira said: ‘Being allowed to retain his role as colonel of the Grenadier Guards and other military titles, Prince Andrew will put a stain on the regiment’s proud history and will devalue the hard work of past and future generations of Grenadiers.
‘He must step down immediately.’
It is the latest blow for the beleaguered Duke of York, who has staunchly denied claims by Virginia Roberts, 38, that she was forced to have sex with him on three occasions in 2001 while she was held as a teenage sex slave by Epstein.
Ms Roberts’ civil claim against the duke is expected to reaching a turning point tomorrow, when a New York court unseals a confidential 2009 deal between Epstein and the alleged victim.
Prince Andrew’s lawyers are hopeful that Ms Roberts’ agreement with Epstein could block her civil lawsuit, as they insist its terms protect him from any litigation. Federal judges said they can see no reason why the agreement should remain private.
The duke, who famously served in the Falklands in 1982, holds a total of nine military titles which may only be withdrawn by the Queen.
Prince Andrew’s lawyers are hopeful that Virginia Roberts’ 2009 agreement with Jeffrey Epstein – set to be unsealed tomorrow – could block any further litigation
In August, the Queen apparently ‘let it be known’ that she wanted the Duke of York to continue as colonel of the Grenadier Guards
Andrew admits he has no proof over infamous claim he can’t sweat
Prince Andrew suffered a setback in his US sex case, after admitting he has no proof over his infamous claim he cannot sweat and also seeing the judge throw out an attempt to stall the case.
Lawyers for his accuser, who is suing the prince for damages in a New York civil case, have demanded he hand over evidence he does not perspire, as he said in a car crash Newsnight interview two years ago when denying her allegations.
But his legal team said ‘no documents exist in his possession, custody or control’ to back the claim.
Retired colonel Richard Kemp said: ‘If she decides it would be right for Andrew to forfeit his military titles she will do so, putting her duty to the forces above any family considerations or personal views.’
In August, the Queen apparently ‘let it be known’ that she wanted the Duke of York to continue as colonel of the Grenadier Guards, even though he has largely cut back from other royal duties.
The Sunday Times reported today that royal courtiers had discussed proposals to stop the prince using his royal title if he loses the civil lawsuit brought by Ms Roberts.
Such a move would also likely sever the prince’s remaining links to various charities and lead to a possible ‘internal exile’.
On Friday, the prince’s effort to block Ms Roberts’ lawsuit on the grounds that she no longer lives in the US was rejected by a federal judge.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, in a written order, told the prince’s lawyers they must turn over documents on the schedule that has been set in the lawsuit brought by Ms Roberts.
She says she was abused by the prince on multiple occasions in 2001 while she was being sexually abused by financier Jeffrey Epstein. The prince’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, called the lawsuit ‘baseless.’
Source: Read Full Article
