CNN historian and royal expert Kate Williams says this is not the first time a family member has faced legal action. She states that Prince Charles was sued by a law student after an appearance in Ohio in 1978. The student sued for alleged lack of “various rights guaranteed by the (US) Constitution”, (though the case did not proceed). And in 2002, Princess Anne became the first member of the royal family to be convicted of a criminal offense after her dog bitten two children in a park. But these cases are mild in comparison to allegations of sexual assault of a minor.
Traditionally, the royal family has adopted the mantra of “Never complain, never explain”. But that strategy of silence of crisis management may not be enough this time.
Andrew’s options are by no means clear at this point. According to Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University, if Andrew’s legal team chooses not to engage in a civil lawsuit, it could open him up to a directed judgment and potential financial damages. “What (Gifrey) is seeking here is not imprisoned, not guilty, not a criminal trial. It’s just a civil suit to collect damages for money,” Murray explains.
Such civil cases rarely reach the jury trial stage, says Murray, and are instead usually resolved through summary judgment or settlement, the latter of which can be a problem for the royal.
Murray explains, “She is on record saying that she had nothing to do with him … and therefore any attempt to compromise on this point would appear to be a statement that there is some truth to her allegations.”
It should be noted that Andrew has never faced criminal charges. But Murray points out that if the case is allowed to proceed, it could open the royal to further investigation.
“To allow it to really proceed – to search, to take statements, to take superficial evidence – means that whatever comes up in this civil trial can be made public, the criminal charges against him.” or any other person whose name has come up in this particular dispute,” she says. “They have a lot of normal risks and things to think about at this point.”
Whichever way the court filing goes, there is also a PR nightmare the family must now navigate, with royal commentators and legal experts suggesting there may be no coming back from it for Andrew.
Nigel Cawthorne, author of “Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace,” says there is little recourse for the Duke to return to public duties. “It is very difficult to see how he can return to the front line of the monarchy, as he has expressed his will, pending a trial or if a court finds against him in absentia.”
Alex McCready, head of reputation and privacy at London-based law firm Verdags, which specializes in handling cases of high-profile clients, agrees that the fallout from the suit could damage the family’s reputation.
“The ‘head in the sand’ approach by the Royal family will inevitably attract criticism from many quarters,” she says. “Whatever path Prince Andrew chooses, significant damage has been done to his own reputation and, arguably, to the wider royal family, which will be difficult to undo.”
It is difficult, but not impossible, to recover from, according to Amber Melville-Brown, head of media and reputation practice at international law firm Withers.
“As Prince Charles told broadcaster and writer Jeremy Paxman, the royal family is, after all, a soap opera. But if that’s the case then the series isn’t going to end any time soon,” says Melville-Brown. “The monarchy is more than the sum of the parts of its family. Despite the iconic onslaught, this is a series that will never be canceled, even in today’s cancellation culture.”
She adds: “There is no ‘secret sauce’ of reputation rehabilitation that suits all tastes. Acceptance, regret, responsibility are just a few of the ingredients, dignity, empathy and positivity, while keeping up with the work is a key element.”
And this is where the queen excels, because everything she has done in her long reign is in the service of her field.
Despite this crisis, there is no evidence that the scandal has so far tarnished the emperor’s reputation. But in the era of #MeToo and between a global reckoning on race, rights and privilege, that may change and Andrew will undoubtedly be aware of how important his next move is.
CNN’s Ivana Kottasova, Nina dos Santos and Gazi Balciz contributed reporting.
Pic of the Week
Queen Elizabeth II inspects troops of the Balaclava Company, the 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral on Monday. Also Shetland pony Lance Corporal Cruchan IV was the mascot of the Royal Regiment.
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from the royal vault
Nestled in the lush Scottish Highlands, the Queen’s Balmoral abode is said to be one of her favorite places to rest. This week, the 95-year-old returned to her cherished sanctuary in Aberdeenshire for her annual summer break.
The property has been in the family since 1852, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought it, but the original palace was actually built in the 15th century. For generations the kings are said to have found “peace and peace” in the 50,000-acre estate.
Balmoral is a private residence owned by the family rather than one of the royal palaces owned by the Crown Estate. “It’s the most beautiful place on earth. I think Grandma is happiest there,” Princess Eugenie said in the ITV documentary “Our Queen at Ninety.”
When asked why, the princess said: “Walks, picnics, dogs – lots of dogs, there are always dogs – and people come in and out all the time.”
The family clearly enjoys the freedom of being outside without the limelight. Other royal activities over the years included games and outdoor grilling sessions, with Prince Harry hailing the late Duke of Edinburgh as the “master of the barbecue”.
Some members of the royal family have also been known to enjoy grouse-shooting on the local moors, while many have joined spectators at the Bremer Highland Games, a competitive event that showcases Scottish athletes and musicians – again this year. It was canceled again due to the pandemic. .
The Princess Royal, who is the chair of the British Olympic Association, wrote a motivational message celebrating the team’s achievements at this year’s Games. Team GB won 65 medals in total, making it fourth on the Olympic medal tally overall.
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