Britain’s Prince Andrew, *** prince no more, his brother King Charles officially starting the process of stripping Andrew of his remaining royal titles and evicting him from the royal estate in Windsor. It’s the royal family’s strongest response yet to the disgraced Prince’s links to. Late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s *** moment about justice, right? Epstein’s survivor Danielle Binsky responding to the news Thursday. I think it was incredibly hopeful for survivors, and it’s *** glimmer of hope that we haven’t seen, um, in *** really long time, if ever. The years-long controversy over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein intensified after the release of *** posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged Andrew sexually assaulted her when she was *** teenager. Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations against him. He claimed he never met Giuffre, who died by suicide in April at the age of 41. On Thursday, her family released *** statement reading in part, quote, Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down *** British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage. Giuffre’s brother also spoke out on Thursday. I think this is *** big sense of vindication for her from. Not just the general public, but from the king himself to say I stand by survivors. Buckingham Palace also released *** statement reading in part, quote, Their Majesties’ wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been and will remain with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse. I’m Reid Benyon reporting.
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Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly a prince and the Duke of York, will be denied a six-figure compensation payout for his early eviction from a 30-room mansion on the Windsor estate due to its state of repair, the Crown Estate has said.In a briefing to the UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines the value for money of government projects and services, the Crown Estate said an initial assessment of the Royal Lodge showed “in all likelihood that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be owed any compensation for early surrender of the lease … once dilapidations are taken into account.”The Crown Estate added that while it does not believe “any compensation will necessarily be due,” Andrew would be set to receive a six-figure sum of £488,342.21 ($644,336), if “no end-of-tenancy repairs or dilapidations are required.”King Charles had ordered his brother to leave the property in Windsor Great Park, west of London, as he announced in October that Andrew would be stripped of his “prince” title due to controversy surrounding his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The property, which has been Andrew’s home since 2003, sits on an estate of 40 hectares (99 acres). The estate features a swimming pool, an aviary, six lodge cottages, a gardener’s cottage and accommodation for police protecting the royals to stay in.The late Queen Elizabeth II granted Andrew, the third of her four children, the right to live in the lodge, which is officially owned by the Crown Estate. The prince paid £1 million for the property in 2003, and under the terms of the 75-year lease, which was due to expire on June 15, 2078, he was expected to pay for any refurbishment work and the maintenance of the surrounding grounds.Andrew will move to a property on the Sandringham estate, about 100 miles north of London, which is privately owned by the British monarch. His new accommodation will be privately funded by King Charles, but Andrew is not expected to move in until after the Christmas holidays, according to a royal source.The news comes as the PAC said Tuesday it would launch an inquiry into the Crown Estate over outstanding questions regarding Andrew’s lease agreement.Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, an MP and chair of the PAC, thanked the Crown Estate and the Treasury for responding to the committee’s questions, adding: “Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry.”“We now await the conclusions the NAO (National Audit Office) will draw from this information, and plan to hold an inquiry based on the resulting evidence base in the new year,” he added.The inquiry will look at the Crown Estate’s property leases with the Royal Family, which include Prince Edward’s lease of Bagshot Park near Windsor, and the Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London, housing Princess Alexandra and her family.CNN’s Lianne Kolirin and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed reporting.
Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly a prince and the Duke of York, will be denied a six-figure compensation payout for his early eviction from a 30-room mansion on the Windsor estate due to its state of repair, the Crown Estate has said.
In a briefing to the UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines the value for money of government projects and services, the Crown Estate said an initial assessment of the Royal Lodge showed “in all likelihood that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be owed any compensation for early surrender of the lease … once dilapidations are taken into account.”
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The Crown Estate added that while it does not believe “any compensation will necessarily be due,” Andrew would be set to receive a six-figure sum of £488,342.21 ($644,336), if “no end-of-tenancy repairs or dilapidations are required.”
King Charles had ordered his brother to leave the property in Windsor Great Park, west of London, as he announced in October that Andrew would be stripped of his “prince” title due to controversy surrounding his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The property, which has been Andrew’s home since 2003, sits on an estate of 40 hectares (99 acres). The estate features a swimming pool, an aviary, six lodge cottages, a gardener’s cottage and accommodation for police protecting the royals to stay in.
The late Queen Elizabeth II granted Andrew, the third of her four children, the right to live in the lodge, which is officially owned by the Crown Estate. The prince paid £1 million for the property in 2003, and under the terms of the 75-year lease, which was due to expire on June 15, 2078, he was expected to pay for any refurbishment work and the maintenance of the surrounding grounds.
Andrew will move to a property on the Sandringham estate, about 100 miles north of London, which is privately owned by the British monarch. His new accommodation will be privately funded by King Charles, but Andrew is not expected to move in until after the Christmas holidays, according to a royal source.
The news comes as the PAC said Tuesday it would launch an inquiry into the Crown Estate over outstanding questions regarding Andrew’s lease agreement.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, an MP and chair of the PAC, thanked the Crown Estate and the Treasury for responding to the committee’s questions, adding: “Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry.”
“We now await the conclusions the NAO (National Audit Office) will draw from this information, and plan to hold an inquiry based on the resulting evidence base in the new year,” he added.
The inquiry will look at the Crown Estate’s property leases with the Royal Family, which include Prince Edward’s lease of Bagshot Park near Windsor, and the Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London, housing Princess Alexandra and her family.
CNN’s Lianne Kolirin and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed reporting.
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