(Sky News): King Charles III and Prince William were reportedly given advance warning that fresh and damaging revelations were set to emerge about ex-Prince Andrew and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a source close to the York family, the monarch and his heir received “some kind of forewarning” late last year that the scandal surrounding the disgraced royal was far from over.
On Friday, millions of pages of previously sealed Epstein files were released by the US Department of Justice, laying bare the depth of the relationship between Andrew, Fergie and the convicted paedophile through hundreds of pages of email correspondence.
While some of the emails contained sexual innuendo from accounts labelled ‘The Duke’ and ‘The Duchess of York’, others included references to- and images of- their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
King Charles III and Prince William were reportedly given advance warning that fresh and damaging revelations were set to emerge about ex-Prince Andrew and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a source close to the York family, the monarch and his heir received “some kind of forewarning” late last year that the scandal surrounding the disgraced royal was far from over.
On Friday, millions of pages of previously sealed Epstein files were released by the US Department of Justice, laying bare the depth of the relationship between Andrew, Fergie and the convicted paedophile through hundreds of pages of email correspondence.
While some of the emails contained sexual innuendo from accounts labelled ‘The Duke’ and ‘The Duchess of York’, others included references to- and images of- their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Shockingly, many of the exchanges occurred after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
The release followed a tranche of resurfaced emails published by tabloids in October, shortly before Andrew and Fergie were stripped of their remaining privileges and booted out of Royal Lodge by the 77-year-old monarch.
Now, a friend of the York sisters, who are said to be “aghast” at their parents’ correspondence, has claimed both King Charles and Prince William were already braced for the fallout.
“It seems clear that William and the King were given some kind of forewarning in intelligence briefings late last year about what was still to come,” the source told The Mail UK.
“They obviously couldn’t share that, and when they evicted Andrew and Sarah from Royal Lodge, some people thought it was too harsh.”
The source added: “In the light of what’s now come out, it looks a more appropriate sanction.”
The insider pointed to a moment during Prince William’s November trip to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards, when the future King was pressed by reporters about his uncle.
“I wish I could say more, but I can’t,” the 43-year-old reportedly said.
According to the source, the remark suggested William was already aware of further revelations yet to enter the public domain.
Since Andrew’s ties to Epstein first became public, William is said to have taken a particularly hardline stance- at times clashing with his father over what insiders have described as a “ruthless” approach.
Palace sources have previously claimed the Prince of Wales led the push to strip Andrew of his military honours, dukedoms and Royal Lodge access.
In October, UK barrister and broadcaster Andrew Eborn told Sky News Digital presenter Gabriella Power that William “ruthlessly led the efforts” to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedoms, honours, and Royal Lodge access.
“William is much more ruthless than his father. He’s looking for the future and the damage that Andrew is doing to the monarchy, so he probably wants to take it much, much further,” Eborn said.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie echoed those views in December, claiming William sees the former Duke of York as an ongoing liability.
“He’s going to be no longer protected. William is going to deal with him,” Mr Lownie said.
According to the author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, the Prince of Wales wants to ensure the monarchy enters its next chapter without unresolved scandals.
“He wants the stables cleaned … the window dressing is that Andrew will leave by the spring, and he’s a good boy, and he’s done what he’s been told,” Mr Lownie claimed.
While William has reportedly made clear to his cousins Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, that they “remain blameless in the matter of their father’s fall from grace”, tensions have allegedly emerged behind the scenes.
The sisters retain their HRH titles as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II, despite not being working royals- a protection maintained by King Charles.
However, Lownie revealed on his podcast The Lownie Report that William recently warned the York sisters their future titles could be at risk after they refused to undergo a financial audit.
“I think they were asked if they would have their material audited by William, and they refused to do so, which doesn’t send out very encouraging signs,” he said.
“We know they were pretty firmly entwined [with their parents]. The daughters [Beatrice and Eugenie] were taken on all the trade trips at extra cost to the public purse.”
In response, Lownie claimed William may have warned the sisters their titles could ultimately be stripped- though any formal action would need to wait until he ascends the throne.
“It is very difficult, because there’s a big tug of war going on between William and his father (King Charles III),” Lownie said.
“His father is keen to show that he’s boss- but clearly they have different views on how to treat the York family.
“I think when William comes to the throne, there’s a very strong chance that all these titles, apart from his own children, will be got rid of.”
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