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Prince Andrew reportedly axed from royal events over Epstein links

Prince Andrew has had royal engagements cancelled after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. Photo: Getty Images
Prince Andrew has had royal engagements cancelled after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. Photo: Getty Images

Prince Andrew has reportedly been axed from a string of royal engagements after his ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced last month.

Reports by both the New York Post and Sky News centred on the cancellation of scheduled appearances in Northern Ireland next week after organisers reportedly withdrew their invitations.

According to Sky News, the cancellations were made after those hosting the events were concerned the duke’s presence would "change the narrative”.

Some engagements’ details weren’t publicly revealed due to security concerns, but the reopening of a railway station after a $9 million renovation, is said to be among those he was uninvited to attend.

Another event, The Duke of York Youth Golf Competition, has not formally issued a ban on the prince as he’s a patron of the club, but reportedly had similar doubts.

Among these was a warning from the club’s committee that his attendance would be ‘inappropriate’ given the links to Epstein — a serial convicted paedophile.

The club is reportedly now waiting to see if Andrew turns down the invitation without having to officially axe him from the attendee list.

Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, MA on 9/8/04. Epstein is connected with several prominent people including politicians, actors and academics. Epstein was convicted of having sex with an underaged woman. (Photo by Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell last month from an apparent suicide while awaiting trial for sex-trafficking charges. Photo: Getty Images

Although Prince Andrew insists he knew nothing of what he calls Epstein’s “abhorrent” crimes during their decade-long friendship, one of the broker’s most high-profile victims had a different claim.

Virginia Roberts claimed she was forced to have sex with the royal at just 17 and the pair were famously pictured together during the period in question.

“He knows exactly what he’s done, and I hope he comes clean about it,” she recently told media.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell last month, from an apparent suicide, while awaiting trial for sex-trafficking charges.

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