Duke of York seen in public for the first time since unsealed court papers name him in connection with Epstein case

In a significant development, Prince Andrew, the embattled Duke of York, has broken cover, making his first public appearance since being implicated in the unsealing of court documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The disgraced royal, who has vehemently denied all accusations, was spotted leaving his residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, as pressure continues to mount.

Andrew’s reappearance follows the release of court documents associated with a 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of trafficking women for Jeffrey Epstein in December 2021. The papers, now public, mention Andrew 67 times, rekindling public interest in his ties to the notorious financier.

Despite the court documents containing no allegations against Andrew regarding Epstein’s crimes, they have thrust him back into the spotlight. Virginia Giuffre, one of the victims who sued Epstein, claimed in the lawsuit that Andrew was among those who visited Epstein’s properties. The Duke has consistently denied any involvement and settled a civil trial lodged against him by Giuffre in the US.

Recently, it was reported that Andrew had isolated himself after being rattled by the newly unsealed claims related to Epstein. Sources revealed that the Duke was grappling with how to respond and had not ventured out since the shocking allegations surfaced.

The renewed attention on Prince Andrew comes as Epstein victim Sarah Ransome alleged in court documents that he was videoed engaging in sexual activities with an unnamed girl. These claims, vehemently denied by the royal, have added to the controversy surrounding his association with Epstein.

Epstein’s former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, has also entered the fray, blaming the late Queen for pressuring Andrew into settling the civil sexual assault case with Giuffre. Dershowitz argued that Andrew could have won the case and speculated that he was influenced by external pressures to avoid a public trial.

As the scandal continues to cast a shadow over the Royal Family, royal sources suggest that King Charles may reconsider his earlier directive to welcome Prince Andrew back into the fold. Senior royals, including Prince William, reportedly warned against embracing Andrew due to the persistent Epstein association, which poses a direct threat to the monarchy’s future.

Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after a controversial BBC Newsnight interview, faces renewed scrutiny, and the unfolding events raise questions about the royal family’s stance on his role and place in public life.