Cameron and May (together with other senior politicians) knew him too - much better than Andrew; A met them through the system.

And many more in the media, Westminster, and the royal residences guesting this chap - in the diplomatic corps - was ubiquitous.

Andrew has become the whipping boy for the Royals.

The press are brutal on him. Never should have paid off that accuser. Bad move.

All the drama over Epstein has finally died down and the media are bored with him.

Only fantasists and conspiracy nuts rattle on about some alleged list of island party goers.

I always find it funny that the media shows Epstein leaving his house and seen closing the door is the daughter of an Australian ex-prime minister. It's never mentioned in Epstein tales.

China should look to Prince Edward. He is universally ignored. The Perfect Spy.

The fuss is ridiculous and hypocritical.

The establishment has for decades welcomed and worshipped at the idol of dodgy money from Russia, China, Middle East; knowing full well there will be links to security agencies in the mix.

But money comes first! All sensible grown-ups know this...

ALTAR not idol Wyot. See me!

JK2006 wrote:
ALTAR not idol Wyot. See me!

I agree that Andrew is being treated unfairly and that there's hypocrisy involved. If he had known the guy was a spy, that's a different matter, but if he didn't, I can't see any reason why he should be pilloried for being targeted. The Chinese probably thought he was a weak link. It seems very unfair that he (and Fergie, apparently) should be banished from Christmas at Sandringham. I bet Charles has met a few unsavoury characters over the years. Maybe he should banish himself, and replace his Christmas message with the test card!

Jo wrote:
I agree that Andrew is being treated unfairly and that there's hypocrisy involved. If he had known the guy was a spy, that's a different matter, but if he didn't, I can't see any reason why he should be pilloried for being targeted. The Chinese probably thought he was a weak link. It seems very unfair that he (and Fergie, apparently) should be banished from Christmas at Sandringham. I bet Charles has met a few unsavoury characters over the years. Maybe he should banish himself, and replace his Christmas message with the test card!

I'll never forget covering Charles opening a new village development in Sydney on behalf of a billionaire property developer.

Apart from following him around as he inspected a nice new terrace house and commented that the upstairs kitchen was a "wonderful idea"..he then had to go a newly constructed Town Hall and mingle with the local suburban town councilors as they jockeyed for photographs as Charles inspected some tedious Town maps on the walls.

I know one a couple of years later was done for fraud and receiving bribes.

Just imagine the dodgy people and crooks the Royals have met over the years?

I also attended a charity dinner for Andrew at the Sydney Monaco Consulate.

One guest was a prominent female bordello owner.

Remember HRH The Queen having to put up with the awful Ceaușescus at Buck House overnight and complaining they stole numerous items from their room !

That's interesting, hedda, and hilarious! I was just wondering the other day if the royals get stuff pinched. A member of my family used to work at a hotel frequented by the rich and famous and had once seen a guest making off with a vase. He had asked her to put it back where it belonged, and she had coolly done so. Princess Anne had been a guest at one point and had apparently been very down to earth. Unlike some Arab dignitaries, who had demanded that their staff use a different entrance.