A prominent royal author has stated that the former Duke and Duchess of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, are effectively barred from entering the United States. This reported ban stems from their longstanding association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the author, neither individual is willing to risk travel to the U.S., fearing potential arrest or a congressional subpoena to testify regarding their connections to Epstein. The author further claimed their friendship with the disgraced financier was both more extensive and of longer duration than publicly understood.
The allegations connecting the former prince to Epstein’s crimes are severe. In a posthumously published memoir, one of Epstein’s most well-known accusers, Virginia Giuffre, alleged she was trafficked to Andrew while she was a minor. The royal author suggested that evidence may emerge of other, younger victims.
Financially, the ties were also significant. While Ferguson has acknowledged a relatively small loan from Epstein, the author contends the true figure was substantially higher, characterizing it as an investment by Epstein to gain access to royal circles.
These controversies have had profound consequences for Andrew’s status. He was stripped of his royal titles and military affiliations and removed from his Windsor residence. Reports indicate that Catherine, Princess of Wales, was a key influence in the decisive action taken by the monarch, arguing that the situation was damaging to the institution.
The couple, who divorced in 1996 but continued to share a home, now face a future where a major world power appears closed to them, a direct result of their past associations.
