ROYAL fans have been left furious by claims the Queen personally paid £2 million to help settle rape claims against Prince Andrew.
Her Majesty made the enormous payment to Virginia Roberts' charity after part of the Duke of York's alleged £12 million settlement, according to reports.
She agreed to help her second son make the payment on the understanding her portion did not go directly to Virginia Giuffre and was instead made via a charitable donation, The Sun reported.
Royal aides earlier claimed the finances involved in the settlement would never be revealed and that Andrew would keep his titles of Duke of York, Queen's Counsellor or State and Vice-Admiral.
But there are growing calls for these last remaining roles to be stripped from the disgraced Duke and formally remove the pomp and privileges that continue to surround him.
And there are also demands for the finances of his settlement to be made public, with serious questions raised over whether taxpayer money was used either directly or indirectly to have the rape claims dropped.
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest updates…
- Milica Cosic
Charity slams Prince Andrew (Continued…)
Teresa Parker, spokesperson for Women’s Aid, continued to say: "Where financial settlements are made because the accused have wealth and power in a situation – such as when a footballer accused of domestic abuse negotiates an out-of-court settlement – from a survivor’s perspective, this is the opposite of justice being done.
"It is about using money and power to manage and control the situation. And we know that power and control are ultimately at the heart of abuse, so paying for a situation to go away is part of this.
"The best campaigners for abuse are the brave women who have survived it, not those trying to publicly clear their name.”
- Milica Cosic
Charity slams Prince Andrew
Sex abuse campaigners have reacted with horror that Prince Andrew has pledged to redeem himself by becoming an ambassador against "sex trafficking".
Sex abuse charities and campaigners have distanced themselves from the Duke of York who has stopped short of an apology to sex trafficking victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Teresa Parker, spokesperson for Women's Aid, said: “I have been speaking to some of the survivors of abuse we work with at Women’s Aid today, and the last thing they personally want is for any powerful man accused of abusing women to be campaigning on their behalf, or pledging support for them.
"We know only too well that those who perpetrate abuse against women can be manipulative, and it is for this reason that many survivors of abuse will feel this way."
- Joseph Gamp
The Queen has several major engagements in March
Her Majesty has a number of major engagements coming up next month.
These outings inlclude a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14 and then the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service, also at the Abbey, on March 29.
Traditionally, the Queen would usually arrive at the Great West Door of the Abbey, and walk the length of the church, through the Nave and the Quire, to her seat in the South Lantern.
But, in October, when she attended the Royal British Legion centenary service using a walking stick, she arrived via the Poet's Yard entrance – a shorter route to her seat.
Her recent remarks suggest she may do the same for her own comfort next month.
The Palace declined to comment as to what arrangements were in place.
The Queen is also set to host the Diplomatic Reception on March 2, where she will meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor.
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Charles seen for first time since loaning Andrew cash
PRINCE Charles has been seen today – the first time since loaning Prince Andrew cash for his brother's £12million sex assault settlement.
The Prince of Wales was out on royal duties presenting The Queen's Anniversary Prize for further education at St James's Palace – just days after he was struck down with Covid.
He was joined with his sister Princess Anne to give prizes to eighteen universities for the award.
The royal siblings spoke to representatives from the universities before the prize ceremony.
Despite the ongoing drama with Charles' charity probe, the Prince of Wales seemed in good spirits as he attended the prize giving.
This comes as The Sun revealed Prince Andrew will use a family LOAN to fund his £12million financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan one of many that no longer need to take the stand
Prince Andrew’s settlement now means that key royals will no longer need to take the stand including Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Meghan Markle.
Beatrice could have had to testify about a trip to Pizza Express in Woking.
Andrew said the trip happened the same night a witness saw him dancing with Ms Giuffre at Tramp nightclub in London – hours before the royal allegedly had sex with the teen.
Eugenie could also have faced a subpoena from US lawyer David Boies in a bid to cast doubt on the Pizza Express alibi.
The third royal who could have faced the witness box was Meghan Markle.
Mr Boies reportedly believed the Duchess of Sussex has “important knowledge” and can be relied on to “tell the truth” about the royal’s behaviour.
- Joseph Gamp
‘He’s saving these opinions for that book’
It’s understood the Duke of Sussex accepted a £14.5million advance for the book. He will reportedly donate the profits to charity.
Announcing the deal, the royal vowed to write a “wholly truthful” account, “not as the prince I was born, but as the man I have become”.
But he’s faced criticism for his decision to release the memoir during his grandmother’s Platinum Jubilee year.
And now a slew of experts say he could well be reserving his opinions on Camilla for the tome.
Sarah Robertson told GB News earlier this week: “He’s got a £20m book deal, so he’s obviously got to deliver something that’s going to make people want to go out and buy it.
“This book was signed on the premise that he does talk about personal memoirs, family arrangements, things that have affected him in his life growing up, things he’s been witness to.
“He’s saving these opinions for that book.”
- Joseph Gamp
Burlesque star Dita Von Teese is 'obsessed' with British royalty
Queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese, says she is "obsessed" with British royalty.
However, the dancer acknowledged that she would "never be allowed" to perform a routine for them.
The world-famous star said meeting Prince Charles at a Queen's Cup polo match in 2008 had been one of her "favourite PR moments in history" due to the reaction of the press.
Von Teese is due to return to the UK in March as part of her European Glamonatrix tour and will perform at venues across the country including Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and The London Palladium.
Asked if she would like the chance to perform for members of the Royal Family, she told the PA news agency: "I'm sure it would never be allowed, I know there would be scandal.
"I remember being at the Queen's Cup polo match and I was presented to Prince Charles out on the polo field and the next day the pictures were everywhere.
"It was on the front of a bunch of tabloids as I was leaving: 'The Prince and the showgirl'.
"It was one of my favourite PR moments in history… it was kitschy burlesque press.
"I think it's hilarious for the strip-tease star to shake hands with the Prince of Wales. I live for that."
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry paid a visit to LA Rams’ locker room
Prince Harry was pictured in the LA Rams’ locker room holding their Super Bowl trophy after watching the game with Princess Eugenie.
The Duke of Sussex inspected the Vince Lombardi Trophy while wearing an LA Super Bowl cap.
He also chatted with the team’s owner Stan Kroenke, who also owns Arsenal FC.
The Rams shared the pictures on Twitter, writing: “Feelin’ like royalty.”
Sports writer Peter King said the Prince visiting the winners in their locker room signified how “football has been revived” in LA.
- Joseph Gamp
Labour says £12m book on Queen 'could be put to better use'
A Labour MP has said the £12 million to be spent on a commemorative book for primary school children about the Queen's reign would be better spent on preventing the spread of Covid-19.
All primary school children across the UK will receive a book that celebrates the achievements of the monarch and will explore the role she has held over the past 70 years.
Brent Central MP Dawn Butler said that although she had a "huge amount of respect" for the Queen, the book would risk her becoming embroiled in political debate.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, she said: "At a time when the Department for Education has failed to ensure all schools have adequate ventilation, £12 million would go a long way to improving the situation and providing a bulwark against further spread of Covid-19 as infection rates remain high among young people.
"It is very rare for democratic states to send children commemorative books about their heads of state, and I hope the Government will reconsider this proposal: avoiding political controversy for the monarchy and putting the £12 million of public funds to better use.
"An alternative and more modern solution might be to make the proposed book an online resource."
- Joseph Gamp
Andrew's legal battle 'a distraction the Queen didn't need' in Jubilee Year, MP says
The Queen "deserves a fantastic celebration" in her Platinum Jubilee year and does not need to be "upset" by the Duke of York's legal worries, a Conservative MP has said.
Andrew Rosindell (Romford) said the legal battle between the duke and Virginia Giuffre was a "private matter" for the royal.
Mr Rosindell's remarks, in a pre-recorded interview with GB News to be broadcast on Thursday, came after it was reported that the Queen would help to pay the £12 million out-of-court settlement Andrew has agreed with Ms Giuffre.
Speaking to presenter Gloria De Piero, Mr Rosindell said: "I don't know what's going on there and clearly it's very difficult and it's very upsetting for the Queen, especially in this year of the Queen's Jubilee.
"I want this year to be a wonderful year for the Queen, she deserves a fantastic celebration, and this is a distraction which the Queen didn't need, the country doesn't need it.
"So, it is a private matter really for Prince Andrew to resolve and I really hope it can be resolved very quickly because I want to celebrate a wonderful year for the Queen as she reaches 70 years on the throne and I think that's something we should be focusing on rather than issues such as the problems that Prince Andrew is facing."
- Milica Cosic
Prince Andrew ''relieved' after The Queen helps him out
A friend of Prince Andrew has today said he is feeling 'relatively chipper' and 'relieved' after his mother the Queen 'personally' covered £2million of his £12m pay off for his sexual assault accuser Virginia Roberts.
Summing up The Duke's current state of mind, the friend told the Telegraph: "He is feeling relatively chipper, under the circumstances.
"You can understand the level of personal relief involved."
- Joseph Gamp
Explained: How will Prince Andrew afford the settlement?
The Queen has already suggested she will be paying £2 million of Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
The overall amount is thought to be around £12m, so The Duke has to find another £10m to cover himself.
Aside from help from his mother, the prince is known to be trying to sell his £17m ski chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.
However, it is thought to be heavily mortgaged and as a result, net proceeds are unlikely to cover the whole cost, which means he’ll need to dig deeper.Alongside this, Prince Andrew’s only publicly known regular income was a £249,000-a-year allowance from the Queen which was given to him to fund his Buckingham Palace office. He was given this while he was undertaking royal duties.
According to the Independent, he should also have a pension from his time serving in the Royal Navy, a job which he left in 2001.
- Joseph Gamp
Questions loom over Monarchy's 'right to reign' after scandals
The royal family's "right to reign" has been questioned in the wake of the Duke of York's civil sex assault case and the alleged cash-for-honours scandal that has engulfed the Prince of Wales' foundation.
Charles has made his first public appearance since a Metropolitan Police investigation was launched into the allegation, which has prompted commentators to call for the future king to be questioned by detectives.
The prince hosted a Queen's Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education awards ceremony with the Princess Royal at St James' Palace, and appeared relaxed following a turbulent few days for the monarchy.
The Duke of York is being urged to explain how he will pay for his legal settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre, rumoured to be up to £12 million, as he faces the prospect of never returning to full royal duties.
Charles and his former favoured confidant, Michael Fawcett, were formally reported to the Met Police last September when allegations of cash-for-honours first surfaced in newspaper reports.
- Joseph Gamp
New poll shows Queen STILL Britain's best-loved royal
A new poll has revealed the Queen's ever-growing popularity as the nation's favourite royal has grown.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos Mori, shows almost half (45%) of people who took part named the monarch as one of their most liked royals, a rise of five percentage points since March 2021.
The results also suggest the Duchess of Cambridge has jumped above her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, to take second place in the royal popularity stakes for the first time.
Kate's popularity increased by seven percentage points to 34% and William three points to 31% since March 2021.
But languishing at the bottom was Andrew, cast adrift from the institution in the wake of his damaging sexual assault case, with the duke remaining at 2%.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen in good spirits during today's engagement after 'I can't move' remark
The Queen beamed as she carried on with her royal duties today.
It comes just a day after she confessed to having trouble moving.
The monarch, 95 was seated in front of her computer screen at Windsor Castle, where she received the Finnish and Jordanian ambassadors via video link on Thursday.
It is the latest in a run of engagements this week for the head of state amid a turbulent time for the royal family, with the Duke of York settling his sexual assault lawsuit, and the cash for honours police investigation linked to the Prince of Wales's charity.
During the two audiences on Thursday, the Queen, in a floral dress with a large brooch and her trademark pearls, could be seen smiling on screen as she chatted to the diplomats.
The ambassador of Finland Jukka Siukosaari, who was at Buckingham Palace, presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence on the antique table in front of the monitor.
- Milica Cosic
Princess Beatrice & Sarah Ferguson spotted looking downcast
SARAH Ferguson and Princess Beatrice have been spotted looking downcast just days after Prince Andrew struck a settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
Fergie, 62, looked strained as she left Windsor – as did her daughter, 33, in London – after the Duke settled the sex abuse case for an alleged £12milion.
Beatrice looked glum as she walked around London last week amid her dad's legal case. And her mum, Fergie, also looked distressed in a Range Rover as she left Windsor following her ex-husband's sensational sex abuse settlement.
This comes as The Sun revealed Prince Andrew will use a family LOAN to fund his £12million financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
- Milica Cosic
Royal fans point out 'hypocrisy' of Meg & Harry's treatment
Royal fans are defending how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and were treated by the public, press and royal family during Megxit – pointing out the “hypocrisy” in it, despite the news surrounding Prince Andrew and his current settlement.
Taking their anger to Twitter, one fan wrote: “I’m still waiting for the media to give Prince Andrew the same energy they give Meghan and Harry.”
Another fan said: “Your regular reminder that Harry and Meghan got excommunicated from the royal family for eating avocados and asking politely not to be racially abused,” as they referring to a 2019 headline that read: “How Meghan’s favourite avocado snack – beloved of all millennials – is fuelling human rights abuses, drought and murder”.
And a third fan wrote: “Why is the reporting around Andrew far less vicious than anything around Meghan/Harry. I mean, according to the press, naming their child Lilibet caused the Queen way more upset and distress than this horrendous debacle”.
While a fourth added: “They are going to find a way to blame Meghan Markle for Prince Andrew aren’t they?”
- Milica Cosic
Explained: How will Prince Andrew afford the settlement?
The Queen has already suggested she will be paying £2 million of Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
The overall amount is thought to be around £12m, so The Duke has to find another £10m to cover himself.
Aside from help from his mother, the prince is known to be trying to sell his £17m ski chalet in Verbier, Switzerland.
However, it is thought to be heavily mortgaged and as a result, net proceeds are unlikely to cover the whole cost, which means he'll need to dig deeper.Alongside this, Prince Andrew’s only publicly known regular income was a £249,000-a-year allowance from the Queen which was given to him to fund his Buckingham Palace office. He was given this while he was undertaking royal duties.
According to the Independent, he should also have a pension from his time serving in the Royal Navy, a job which he left in 2001.
- Milica Cosic
Fresh pressure from politicians for Andrew to lose Earl title
The Queen’s son is known as the Earl of Inverness in Scotland but following outcry from English politicians for the prince to lose his title as the Duke of York, similar demands are being made in Inverness.
An SNP MSP has called for Prince Andrew to be stripped of his Earl of Inverness title. Emma Roddick said her constituents are “baffled” as to why the Duke of York has retained the perk.
Roddick said: “I'd be happier to see royal titles gone for good but, as long as they remain, the holder is linked to the area. I stand with a lot of others in Inverness in believing we should no longer have this forced association with Prince Andrew.”
Prince Andrew has held the title of Earl of Inverness since 1986, following his marriage to Sarah Ferguson.
- Milica Cosic
Prince Andrew ''relieved' after The Queen helps him out
A friend of Prince Andrew has today said he is feeling 'relatively chipper' and 'relieved' after his mother the Queen 'personally' covered £2million of his £12m pay off for his sexual assault accuser Virginia Roberts.
Summing up The Duke's current state of mind, the friend told the Telegraph: "He is feeling relatively chipper, under the circumstances.
"You can understand the level of personal relief involved."
- Milica Cosic
Emily Maitlis says Andrew's statement contradicts answers he gave her
The BBC’s Emily Maitlis has claimed that Prince Andrew’s statement contradicts answers he gave her during a Newsnight interview.
During the interview, Andrew was asked to address allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with the royal when she was 17 years old. In the interview, Prince Andrew denied her claims.
Writing for the BBC, Emily Maitlis said: “At the heart of the settlement is the biggest question of all: why is a Prince who told me he had ‘no recollection of ever meeting this lady’ now paying her what we understand to be upwards of £10m?
“I distinctly remember putting Virginia Giuffre’s accusations to him directly: ‘She says she met you in 2001, she dined with you, danced with you, you bought her drinks in Tramp nightclub and she went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia."
“And I have the Prince’s reply in front of me now. Three words only: ‘It didn’t happen.'"
Maitlis concluded that she felt “journalistically disappointed we won’t get to see how this story played out” without the “satisfaction in the sense of an ending – any ending – that saw the prince make his legal defence so comprehensively.”
- Milica Cosic
'How exactly is Andrew going to support victims of trafficking?'
Jess Phillips, Labour's Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, said Andrew's pledge to help victims displayed "a shocking level of arrogance".
Speaking to The Sun, she added: "How exactly is he going to support victims of trafficking?
"What makes him think that either charities in that space, or even more so, the victims, in that space would consider him to be an honest broker in this?
"Also, what does Prince Andrew think he's got to offer exactly? There is a shocking level of arrogance about it.
"I am sure that the statement was agreed by all parties but he has got literally zero experience. I don't know why he would think that was appropriate and I find that to be another bizarre moment in his lack of self-awareness."
- Milica Cosic
Charity slams Prince Andrew (Continued…)
Teresa Parker, spokesperson for Women’s Aid, continued to say: "Where financial settlements are made because the accused have wealth and power in a situation – such as when a footballer accused of domestic abuse negotiates an out-of-court settlement – from a survivor’s perspective, this is the opposite of justice being done.
"It is about using money and power to manage and control the situation. And we know that power and control are ultimately at the heart of abuse, so paying for a situation to go away is part of this.
"The best campaigners for abuse are the brave women who have survived it, not those trying to publicly clear their name.”
- Milica Cosic
Charity slams Prince Andrew
Sex abuse campaigners have reacted with horror that Prince Andrew has pledged to redeem himself by becoming an ambassador against "sex trafficking".
Sex abuse charities and campaigners have distanced themselves from the Duke of York who has stopped short of an apology to sex trafficking victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Teresa Parker, spokesperson for Women's Aid, said: “I have been speaking to some of the survivors of abuse we work with at Women’s Aid today, and the last thing they personally want is for any powerful man accused of abusing women to be campaigning on their behalf, or pledging support for them.
"We know only too well that those who perpetrate abuse against women can be manipulative, and it is for this reason that many survivors of abuse will feel this way."
- Milica Cosic
'Virginia got what she wanted'
A royal author has claimed that Prince Andrew’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre is “quite significant” and that it’s good that “Virginia has got what she wanted.”
Royal author Angela Levin said that: “It’s good on both sides because Virginia has got what she wanted really, she wanted to be paid properly, but we hear it’s going to a charity of her choice so she can’t be thought of as someone who’s just after the money for herself, I think that’s quite significant.”
She added: “Hopefully at the end of the month this will all go away. It does not mean, however, he will be embraced by the royal family and we will see him during the Jubilee celebrations.
"I think he’s going to have to learn to live quietly and modestly, but that’s better than going to court.”
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