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This story contains references to allegations of sexual assault, and suicide.
Pressure on Andrew has intensified over the past week, with the prince giving up his formal title, the Duke of York, as a posthumous memoir by American-Australian Virginia Giuffre was released.
She wrote that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions, having been trafficked by Epstein. Giuffre was recruited into Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking network when she was a 17-year-old minor while working at US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in 2000, saying in the book she feared she would “die a sex slave”. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, some British politicians have called for a parliamentary debate — rejected by the government — on formally removing his titles. There has also been a push for an inquiry into his lease agreement that allows him to live virtually rent-free at the grand Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle. He is, however, expected to pay for the upkeep of the mansion as a condition of the tenancy.
Polling suggests the 65-year-old is unpopular among Britons, with YouGov indicating just 13 per cent share a positive sentiment. Australians may share similar views. When the pollster surveyed 1,501 people a year ago, 67 per cent of respondents said they had a negative opinion of Andrew.
Support for the British royal family remains stronger than it was during Australia’s 1999 referendum on becoming a republic.
The posthumous memoir of Virginia Guiffre, titled “Nobody’s Girl,” has brought to light further allegations regarding Prince Andrew’s alleged misconduct and his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these accusations.
Cindy McCreery, an associate professor of history at the University of Sydney, commented on the growing challenges faced by the royal family, noting that the situation is gaining momentum.
However, McCreery cautioned that it’s still “too early” to predict how these developments will resonate with the Australian public. Meanwhile, monarchists remain steadfast, telling SBS News that the controversies surrounding Prince Andrew have not diminished their support for the monarchy or its constitutional significance in Australia.
Kate (who requested her last name be withheld), 38, told SBS News she has always liked the monarchy.
She keeps a collection of royal memorabilia, and was one of thousands who waited at the Sydney Opera House to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Camilla on their royal tour last year.
“I was hot and exhausted because I was 38 weeks pregnant. But it was so nice seeing the celebration, it’s something you can get quite caught up in, and I really enjoyed that,” she said.
Andrew — who made no admission of liability — agreed to pay her an undisclosed sum.
Kate said the allegations against Andrew are “inexcusable”.
“It’s disappointing because you do see them as figureheads who should be responsible and who should be demonstrating the highest morals,” she said.
She said the saga hasn’t changed her view of the royal family, and that Charles “has done all he can to cut ties” with Andrew.
“It’s up for the authorities to make a call on what the legal ramifications are,” she said.
Difficult questions
Dennis Altman, vice chancellor’s fellow at La Trobe’s Institute for Human Security and Social Change, said that despite serious questions being asked in the United Kingdom about public funds used to support Andrew’s lifestyle, he doesn’t think the saga will damage the reputation of the royals in Australia.
“I don’t think it’s undermining the monarchy in the way that, for example, the scandal around Edward the Eighth marrying Wallis Simpson clearly did,” he said, referring to the King’s abdication in 1936.
The same YouGov poll surveying Australians last year found high levels of positive support for Charles (58 per cent) as well as Princess Catherine and Prince William (74 per cent and 73 per cent, respectively).
Just 19 per cent of those surveyed had a positive opinion of Andrew.
Philip Benwell, national chair of the Australian Monarchist League, told SBS News people don’t blame the King for the alleged actions of his brother.
“People don’t cast blame on them and understand the difficult situation they are in,” he said.
McCreery, however, said that for people sympathetic to the royals who may not consider themselves monarchists, Andrew’s alleged actions could have “consequences of how people view that family”.
“It’s going to be increasingly difficult for them [the royal family] to actually separate his reputation from that of his family,” she said.
“One of the questions that will come up is, well, why didn’t you do anything? Or why didn’t Queen Elizabeth do anything when these rumours surfaced?
“Those are increasingly difficult to answer.”
Floundering republic support
If a referendum on a republic were to be held today, there is a strong chance it would be rejected by a bigger margin than the 1999 Australian republic referendum, polling suggests.
In 1999, nearly 55 per cent of Australians voted against breaking up with the monarchy. YouGov in October last year said its polling suggested that, if a referendum on a republic were held, it would be defeated 41 per cent to 59 per cent.
McCreery said that while polls need to be put into context, the findings are “broadly true”.
“As the prime minister [Anthony Albanese] has acknowledged, there is not, at the moment, a really clear appetite among most Australians for another referendum on a republic,” she said.
Albanese has dismissed a referendum on a republic, despite the Labor policy platform supporting an Australian as the head of state rather than the king.
As to whether the Andrew scandal could spark that appetite, McCreery said it’s “too early to make that call”.
“I would imagine the Australian republican movement would see this as an opportunity to remind Australians of the disadvantages of our current system,” she said.
Altman said if a referendum were to go ahead, it’s more likely that the campaign for a republic would be damaged by the overseas actions Trump, more than the monarchist movement would be damaged by former Prince Andrew.
“The monarchists would have a very easy time pointing to Trump,” he said.
“Although nobody is suggesting an American-style presidency, the whole concept of a politician being elected as head of state would be enough to put people off,” he said.
Kate told SBS News the Prince Andrew saga had not dented her view that Australia should remain a constitutional monarchy.
“I don’t think we should become a republic. It’s good to have ties to the Commonwealth and to the UK,” she said.
“There’s so much change in the world, and I feel like we have that grounding of having a monarchy.”
— With reporting by the Agence France-Presse news agency.
If allegations set out in this story raise issues for you, or you or someone you know needs support, you can seek 24-hour help by calling 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visiting 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.
