Columnist Rosa Prince has expressed her astonishment at the contrasting ways the United Kingdom and the United States are responding to the wealthy associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In her remarks to Bloomberg, she highlights the significant fall from grace experienced by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who is now to be addressed simply as Mr. Mountbatten Windsor. This change follows his removal from his home at Windsor Castle, a decision made by King Charles III after a series of damaging revelations regarding Prince Andrew’s ties to Epstein.
Prince describes this as “a stunning fall,” especially for the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose family has historically maintained a stance of dignified permanence at the heart of the British monarchy. The relentless exposure of Prince Andrew’s associations with Epstein has become intolerable for the royal family, prompting decisive action.
Moreover, Prince calls for the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration to match the moral decisiveness shown by the UK establishment by initiating a full public investigation into Epstein’s network. She refers to the accounts of Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim whose book sheds light on a diverse array of influential individuals linked to the financier, including politicians, business leaders, and academics. Giuffre notably identifies a former minister whom she claims was one of her most violent aggressors.
Despite the gravity of these allegations, Prince criticizes U.S. government officials for their lack of transparency, claiming they have employed political maneuvers, such as recesses and shutdowns, to withhold critical information. This includes substantial amounts of data held by the FBI regarding Epstein and his associates, including Ghislaine Maxwell.
Prince questions why the British monarchy has taken more decisive action against the Epstein scandal than their American counterparts, suggesting that the outrage and demand for justice among the American public is equally, if not more, intense. Citing the role of UK tabloids as vigilant investigators, she argues that the U.S. legislative and executive branches should look to the UK’s response as a model for action.
The ongoing Epstein saga highlights a broader need for accountability among powerful figures, and as Prince asserts, this scandal will persist until those responsible face justice.