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Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has announced that he will stand down as Britain’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. After 10 years in the role, the prince is leaving behind a mountain of scandal.

As the evolution of my role continues apace and in order to reflect the changes I have outlined, I have decided that the label I gave myself when I began this role of Special Representative has served its purpose and is no longer necessary to the work that I do today and, more importantly, in the future,” Andrew said in his 2011 annual review.

Wikileaks revealed unsavory details of the Duke’s business meetings and other various dealings with foreign leaders. When his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was revealed, that was the breaking point. There were calls for the Duke to step down long before today’s resignation, but Andrew attempted to weather the storm.

Controversially, the Queen invested her second son with the titular honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. It is an honor that is given personally by the Sovereign for distinguished services to the monarch. People were agog that Her Majesty seemed to be awarding Andrew’s scandals. We will never know the Queen’s reasoning behind the move – perhaps she awarded it on purely impersonal grounds. Andrew was honored because he was, officially, the Special Representative for Trade and Investment. Anything other than that, the Queen will not acknowledge publicly.

Happily, the Queen’s grandson and granddaughter-in-law will be stepping up their public roles representing the UK. Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expected to take a larger role in promoting UK trade interests after the success of their North American tour.

Thanks to CNN

Related articles

• Prince Andrew to step down as trade envoy, Buckingham Palace confirms (guardian.co.uk)
• Prince Andrew Is Stepping Down As UK Trade Envoy Because Of His Ties To Hedge Fund Sex Offender (businessinsider.com)
• Prince Andrew Steps Down As U.K. Trade Envoy (huffingtonpost.com)

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In the 1980s, he was boisterous “Randy Andy” and a hero in the Falklands. Now the Duke of York is propping up a delusional ex-wife who is eating through their daughters’ inheritance, taking money left and right, is accused of associating with autocratic regimes, and is palling around with pedophiles.

So what is going on?

First, the foreign regimes. Richard Palmer’s article in his Daily Express blog doesn’t defend the Duke of York, but he does note that the politicians calling out the Duke are completely hypocritical.

Politicians and business leaders, whether their country is a monarchy or a republic, court regimes whose nations have oil. Why? They have the oil that our countries use. It’s as simple as that. That the royals are also doing it is just another government figure getting us our portion of the supply by keeping good relations with them.

Next: Sarah Ferguson. Though they are divorced, I think “Randy Andy” and “Fergie” are made for each other.

Sarah claimed that Andrew had no knowledge of her wheelings and dealings last year, caught on camera in an undercover operation. The Duke has shown, however, that he is perfectly happy to accept favors and money himself.  Plus, the pair still live together and are said to be very good friends (or “bestest friends”, in Sarah’s words). So was he really that much in the dark? They are as thick as thieves, so deep down I doubted it.

Then Sarah blurted out that her ex-husband was involved with helping to pay off her debts. How? Through his billionaire pal – and pedophile – Jeffrey Epstein. Of course, Sarah has (again) admitted to a ‘terrible, terrible error of judgment’ after accepting £15,000 from convicted sex offender Epstein.

‘I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.’

Right.

In short, she got her money, and that’s all that mattered. That he is a convicted sex offender made no difference to her or to the Duke. Epstein was a walking wallet, and he had what they wanted. You’re known by the company you keep, that’s all I can say.

Their actions are made even more painful with the release of the film “The King’s Speech”. The noble and inimitable Yorks on screen serve to remind us – and must remind the Queen – that the former Duke and Duchess were once the family-oriented, reliable pair the monarchy could rely on in dark days. It truly is tragic that Her Majesty’s own son should bring such shame to the institution, and to the family personally.

I find the Yorks reprehensible and their actions are highly unbecoming. So I pose it to you, readers: Should Fergie finally lose the Duchess of York title? Should Prince Andrew not only be removed from his post as UK trade envoy, but also have the title Duke of York revoked?

Related articles

• Fergie sorry over perv pal’s £15k (thesun.co.uk)
• Duke of York ‘appealed to Jeffrey Epstein to help Duchess pay debt’ (telegraph.co.uk)
• Duchess of York admits Prince Andrew arranged for convicted paeodophile Jeffrey Epstein to help her pay off debts (mirror.co.uk)

While out and about in La Conner, Washington, I stumbled upon a little antique store. I had spotted a familiar photo in the window – it was King George VI with Queen Elizabeth and the little princesses. Intrigued, I went inside.

Due to the close proximity of Canada, the store had many small royal items, several of which were the Illustrated London News. I purchased three: Read more…

In a rare Buckingham Palace interview ahead of his departure Tuesday for a 10-day U.S. trip to support British business, Prince Andrew described the United States as Britain’s No. 1 ally but conceded that relations were in a trough. There are, he added, “occasions when people in the U.K. would wish that those in responsible positions in the U.S. might listen and learn from our experiences.”

Read more from The International Herald Tribune

I have added a permanent link to Prince Andrew’s website under “Here’s More”. A very useful and informative addition to the link roster!

The Duke of York will be in New Zealand from 14th-22nd March. His Royal Highness will arrive at Auckland International Airport at 1515 on Wednesday 14th, and be met by the Honorary Aide-de-camp to the Governor-General, Wing-Commander John Cummings, RNZAF.

More details from the Monarchist League of New Zealand Inc