London: A scheme for entrepreneurs founded by Prince Andrew has taken down the logos of its corporate sponsors from its website, as firms and charities distance themselves from the British royal over a sex scandal.
Prince Andrew, 59, the queen’s second son, announced Wednesday he’s stepping away from his royal duties “for the foreseeable future” due to continuing controversy over his former friendship with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s second son, denies an allegation that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured for him by his friend Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The scandal has escalated since Andrew’s rambling denials and explanations in a disastrous TV interview aired on Saturday left many viewers incredulous, and his apparent lack of compassion for Epstein’s victims drew widespread condemnation.
Can a British royal prince be “canceled” in today’s modern cancel culture? Yes, he can, more or less, especially if he’s doing it himself and with Queen Elizabeth II’s approval.
Assuming this becomes permanent, it means Andrew is retiring from public life decades earlier than his father, Prince Philip, 98, who retired in 2017, tweeted longtime royal commentator Victoria Arbiter.
This morning’s segment on #PrinceAndrew in full…thanks for having me @TODAYshow: https://t.co/Q8dm0BAksp
— Victoria Arbiter (@victoriaarbiter) November 21, 2019
“Prince Andrew is ‘stepping down’ in response to a wave of self-induced scandal & poor choices but it’s extraordinary to think he’s effectively retiring from royal life 37 years before his father did,” Arbiter posted on Twitter.
