Jeremy Vine said stripping Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his titles sends a ‘signal’ to US authorities that he does not have any protection over his links to Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew will be in an American jail within five years after being “humiliated” by the Royals, a BBC guest has predicted.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, broadcaster Jeremy Vine said he believes this week’s events open the doors for disgraced Andrew to be extradicted to the US. Earlier Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that steps are underway to remove Andrew’s last remaining military honour, as vice admiral of the Navy.
Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Vine said of the Royal, who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor: “He’s been buried alive. I was amazed at what John Healey told you that they’re taking the last military honor away from him.
READ MORE: Inside Kemi Badenoch’s first year – ‘she’s got to hope for a Nigel Farage implosion’READ MORE: Labour minister recalls odd Prince Andrew request – ‘he didn’t deserve titles’
“It’s not enough for him to disappear, they want him humiliated. But I wonder whether the Americans will think, ‘okay we can now go for him’.
“And I would reckon in the next five years he’ll be in an American jail.” Asked by an incredulous Ms Kuenssberg whether he thinks this is likely, Mr Vine said: “I think they’ll they’ll start extradition proceedings on him.
“Because now he has no protection.” He continued to point out that British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is in jail, and Andrew’s support has been pulled. Mr Vine said: “And that must be a signal to the FBI and others that they can now look into him properly.”
Sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, who tragically took her own life earlier this year, claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times – which he denies. Ms Giuffre’s family said the decision to strip him of his royal titles are an “acknowledgement” by Buckingham Palace that something had happened to her.
Earlier Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that Andrew will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral.
He was made a vice-admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank after giving up his other military positions in 2022. Mr Healey told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “In general, the Government’s been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.
“In defence, it’s exactly the same. And we’ve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.”
Asked whether Andrew could lose his military medals as well, Mr Healey said they were “medals for his service”, and added: “I don’t have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the King makes.”
But any decision to remove him from the line of succession is a matter for the King, the Defence Secretary insisted yesterday.
The disgraced Royal is eighth in line to the throne, but the Government faces calls to pass legislation removing him.
Mr Healey told Sky News: “ We’re being guided by the judgment and decisions of the King.” Asked how the Government would respond if the King asked for him to be removed, Mr Healey said: “Well, look, that’s a matter for the King.” But he confirmed that steps were underway to take Andrew’s last remaining military honour, as vice admiral of the Navy.