Fans Divided over Report That Prince Andrew Wants Royal Status 'Reinstated' & 'Respected' after His Downfall

Following the sexual misconduct charges levied against Prince Andrew in connection to Jeffrey Epstein, many witnessed the drastic measures taken by the British Royal institution in light of his trial.

In past months, Prince Andrew has witnessed public scrutiny after he was named concerning sex trafficking misconducts alongside Jeffrey Epstein. The butterfly effect took a toll on his public image and career as a royal.

Before this tumultuous period, Andrew was one of the most beloved royal family members. Andrew attended Gordonstoun boarding school like his father and brother, Prince Charles. He went on to join the military, making significant changes amid the Falkland Island wars.

After settling into royal life, Andrew had a fair share of high-profile affairs in his bachelorhood. He was often seen with actresses, models, and other celebrities, earning him the nickname "Randy Andy." The Duke Of York was also famously known as a playboy prince.

His marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986 shifted his narrative. By the time the pair ended their marriage almost a decade later, Andrew was mostly known as another royal member with a failed marriage.

However, this did not change his cordial relationship with Ferguson. The former spouses, who had two daughters, continued living together at the Royal Lodge near Windsor.

Andrew's reputation among royal fans and the general public was in high esteem due to his pedigree as a naval officer and a helicopter pilot during the Falkland wars.

PRINCE ANDREW'S DOWNFALL

Andrew's reputation and the credibility he built in years came crashing down in 2015 when his name was brought up amid Jeffrey Epstein's trial on sex trafficking. Epstein was found guilty of recruiting and grooming underage girls, and he was convicted.

When Prince Andrew’s name came up, he had been mentioned by Ms. Virginia Giuffre, who made it known that he sexually abused her when she was 17. In 2019, Andrew sat in an interview with BBC where he tried explaining his friendship with Epstein.

He described Epstein’s crime as "unbecoming" and said he did not remember meeting Giuffre. Contrary to this, a photo of the duo sharing a hug had circulated. Andrew also said he did not remember taking the snapshot. This further dipped his already dwindling reputation.

A back and forth ensued between Giuffre and Andrew, filled with claims and counterclaims. In an instance, Giuffre shared that the Prince had been sweating profusely in one of their meetings. He, in turn, made a bizarre claim noting that he was medically incapable of sweating.

Ultimately Giuffre filed a lawsuit against the Prince at a federal court in Manhattan in August 2021. Although his lawyers tried dismissing the case, a judge gave the go-ahead to the sit-in in January 2022.

QUEEN'S HARSH DECISION OVER PRINCE ANDREW

In the wake of this, the Queen released a bombshell statement outlining the consequences of Prince Andrew's legal issues. The letter, addressed as approval from the Queen, removed Andrew's royal patronage and military affiliations.

The statement read that the Duke would discontinue his royal duties while facing his lawsuit as a private entity. There were hints in the short address that strongly suggested that there was no return for Andrew.

For one, the write-up shows that the actions were pronounced by Queen Elizabeth herself, while Andrew was declared a private citizen. This indicates that the royal embers stood by the Queen while Andrew was banned.

The Prince was forbidden from continuously using the "His Royal Highness" title, while his brother, Prince Charles, and nephew, Prince William, were instrumental in establishing the set rules. It was also remitted that the statements were the Queen's words.

Andrew being referred to as a private citizen suggests that the Queen completely dissociated herself and the royal household from his lawsuit. The Queen was also said to have been paying his legal fees at the start of the suit but has since ended that.

There were reports that Andrew's case was widely discussed within the royal family such that many members deliberated on his fate even before he was informed of the decision. This suggests that the royal family members were in unison to protect the future.

PRINCE ANDREW REPORTEDLY WANTS ROYAL STATUS "REINSTATED" & "RECOGNIZED"

One month after Giuffre filed her lawsuit, Andrew was in the news concerning his decision to reach an out-of-court settlement with her. This was according to a letter filed to the US district court.

The Duke, who made no admission of liability, agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of money to Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights. Although the settlement fee was not disclosed, it has been rumored to be about £12 million. In the letter, Andrew was also said to pledge to support victims.

The latest updates on Andrew show that he wishes to be accorded some of the titles taken away from him. According to reports, the Duke wants the Queen to reinstate him as a colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

The 61-year-old is said to have been lobbying for his status as a blood prince to be restored. An insider revealed that Andrew's most coveted title was the colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards. The Prince seeks to be reinstated, recognized, and respected.

While it was earlier purported that he would appear at the annual Order of the Garter ceremony, Andrew was said to have been butted out due to concerns of a public backlash. Princes Charles and William reportedly raised these concerns.

Nonetheless, it is tentative to mention that the Queen supported Andrew, rumored to be her favorite son. The pair appeared at the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service in March.

The developments on Andrew's wish to be reinstated have had many fans weighing on the situation. Fans are divided on what should be decided, as some believe the reinstatement should occur. One person shared that Andrew should return to the fold as he, "Prince Charles and Harry are the Republic's best asset going forward."

Another person suggested that Andrew needed to apologize to the British people first. Someone referred to Prince Charles and Camilla's past issues noting that Andrew deserved a second chance. A Facebook user who opposed it noted that Andrew showed no remorse.