Royal watcher Helena Chard says disgraced Prince Andrew is "petrified" of returning to New York, Fox News reported. The British broadcaster and photographer said Andrew's previous connection with the late Jeffery Epstein, who was a convicted sex offender on a grand scale, has him on edge as public curiosity about the case persists.
With President Donald Trump in office, the public is once again calling for answers over Epstein and his infamous client list that has yet to be released or even leaked. However, the 64-year-old royal was one of the few already implicated by name in legal proceedings.
Chard said Andrew, a formerly avid traveler, refuses to enter the U.S. now that the pressure is on for the FBI to reexamine the evidence. "Prince Andrew is petrified of even thinking of returning to New York," Chard told Fox News.
"He is very much rooted to his home, Royal Lodge, and isn't moving any time soon," she added. The Duke of York has left Britain exactly once in the last half-dozen years.
Epstein was a convicted sex offender awaiting his trial for sex trafficking charges when he committed suicide in prison. One of the victims who sued Epstein, Virginia Giuffre, pointed the finger at Prince Andrew as well.
Since that information became public, Andrew lost the backing of Buckingham Palace and became an albatross around the royal family's neck. Andrew's brother, King Charles, recently asked him to downsize to the Frogmore Cottage to cut costs after already scaling back on his lavish lifestyle.
This happened even after Queen Elizabeth II asked Charles to take care of Andrew, who was her favorite son, after she died. However, it appears Chrales has no tolerance for "Randy Andy" and his previous antics, especially now that he's a financial draw on the family.
"Gone are the comfy days of feeling self-assured and having yes people circling him. The fresh scandals, accusations, public controversies and negative media surrounding Andrew have led to him feeling very alone," Chard went on.
"No one wants association with inappropriate Andrew," she said, adding that he's "very much on his own" these days. "He’s ruminating and fearful that further legal scrutiny over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein will lead to a public, humiliating arrest," Chard added.
Like many others, Chard has no sympathy for Andrew's plight. "Smug Prince Andrew has brought everything upon himself," Chard said.
"His lies have tripped him up and there is no escaping the public animosity towards him. He is guilty in the court of public opinion and has no choice but to keep his nose clean and head down. However, I'm sure he is on tenterhooks wondering what self-induced controversy will rear its head next," Chard added.
Further complicating matters is Andrew's actions since then. "He originally said he would help the FBI, although this was years ago," Chard noted. There's also evidence that Andrew lied about continuing his relationship with Epstein beyond 2010 despite previous denials about an ongoing association.
"There is so much hostility towards Prince Andrew, it would seem unwise to travel to New York… Many people also feel that Prince Andrew… should be held accountable by the monarchy," Chard said.
Andrew was allegedly involved in the exploitation of Giurffe, who was then 17 years old. If he's at all guilty, he deserves everything that's happening to him right now and what's surely to come when Epstein's abusers are brought to justice.
