EFTA01166336.pdf

or any of Jeffrey ENein's girls.' the source Park home to the father of her illegitimate Spoiled but Loyal said. "The duke talked to the lawyers on child. Yet, despite her controversial reputa- er subjects have a deep Irv- the phone. and, with the approval of the tion. Goga has made an appearance in the erence for the Queen, who duke and his office. the lawyers drew up a Queen's box at Ascot and paraded Andrew recently turned 85 and in legal document that was meant as a shot around as the guest of honor at her lavish 2012 will celebrate her across the how of the press in Britain." 30th-birthday party at Tyringham Hall, the 60th year on the throne. (Buckingham Palace wouldn't comment Buckinghamshire country home of real- making her the second- on the meeting.) estate heir Anton Bilton and his wife. Lisa B. longest-serving British monarch. after Queen British libel laws are among the most a model. singer. and actress. In an interview Victoria. As things turned out, her symbolic stringent in the world, so when The Madan with the London Fretting Standard, Goga intervention on Andrew's behalf produced .Sunday and other newspapers ran the stor said that after the Jeffrey Epstein story its desired effect. When arrived in London, I about Andrew's rendezvous with broke Andrew sent her a BlackBerry mes- two weeks after Andrew's investiture into in Cihislaine Maxwell's London sage asking, "Have you seen the papers?" the Royal Victonan Order. the British press home. they carried strong disclaimers say- and saying that he was "veryt very upset" had fallen all but silent about his murky con- ing there was no suggestion of any sexual about the way he was being portrayed, and nections. As for Buckingham Palace. which contact between Prince Andrew and "very, very worried" that he would lose his had been thrown into a state of frenzy by the = That, however, didn't put an end to job as Britain's trade envoy. story. it appeared to have re- the furor in the press and the House of Blabbing about the private feelings of a pined the customary sinless in its upper lip. Commons. where it's highly unusual to member of the royal family is still consid- "The duke has a record of being loyal to hear M.P.'s criticize the royal family. Chris ered bad form in Britain, and Ashkenazi's his friends.- a royal source explained when Bryant. the Labour Party's shadow justice claim to have had a BlackBerry exchange I asked him about Andrew's display of poor minister, urged Prime Minister David with Andrew was dismissed by Buckingham judgment. 'Take his feelings for Sarah Fer- Cameron to "dispense with the services" Palace. But the damage was done. When guson. If you are a prince and you bring a of the prince. Bryant declared. "It's just Andrew showed up at an official event, a woman into the royal life and, for whatever unsustainable that he should remain as the reporter who in the past might have been reason, she's spit out. you might have feel- public face of British industry abroad." deferential asked him outright if he was "an ings of debt toward her. The duke feels that At first. the prime minister appeared re- embarrassment" to the royal family. she's been spattered and rejected. His close luctant to throw Andrew a lifeline. Indeed, Andrew didn't respond. but the answer relationship with the Duchess of York is a government source was quoted as saying, seemed obvious, especially to his handlers problematic. and there have been many prob- "No one will shed any tears if he resigns." in Buckingham Palace. who spotted more lems over the lag 5 to 10 years. all of which When Andrew visited 10 Downing Street, serious trouble ahead. Following stem from the duchess. Some of the behavior Jon Cunliffe, the prime minister's senior allegations that she had en of the duchess is inconsistent with being mar- adviser on Europe and business, reportedly flown across state lines and international ried to. or an ex-wife of the duke. There's no gave him a severe dressing-down. (A Palace borders to commit the criminal act of pros- question but that Sarah's been a financially spokesman denies the.) titution. the F.B.I. set the wheels in motion self-destructive element in the duke's life." But after Iluckingham Palace weighed to reopen its investigation of Jeffrey Ep- A Buckingham Palace spokesman elabo- in. the government rallied around Andrew. stein. As a result of a controversial plea bar- rated on this analysis of the prince's person- A spokesman said that Cameron "fully gain that Epstein struck with prosecutors ality. "The Same kind of loyalty manifested supported" the prince in his job. Several in the U.S. Attorney's Office in southern itself last December, when the duke visited prominent businessmen publicly praised Florida. he escaped more serious charges Epstein at his home in New York." he told Andrew's role in promoting British indus- such as statutory rape, which could have me. "Epstein was a friend of the duke's for try. "He is of huge value," Terry Hill. a sent him to jail for life. Instead, he served the best part of 20 years. It was the first chairman of Arup. an engineering-design only 13 months in prison—most of that time time in four years that he'd seen Epstein. firm, told me. "He's knockout attractive to on work furlough. If the F.B.I. decided to lie now recognizes that the meeting in lk- overseas clients.- file new charges against Epstein. it seemed ember was unwise." A royal source added. likely that Prince Andrew would be subpoe- "Don't expect to see a photo of the two of out of Andrew's friends naed to testify in the United States. them together." knew better than to get With the prospect of even further hu- "Does that mean that Andrew has bro- involved in the royal miliation to her and her son, the Queen ken oil all contact with Epstein?." I asked. mess. One who didn't decided to intervene by employing the "Hereinafter.- the source said, choos- was Goga Ashkenazi, most potent instrument at her command: ing his words with care, "we won't see a exotic, publicity- royal symbolism. Shc summoned Andrew photo." seeking beauty from Kazakhstan. who is fre- to Windsor Castle and in a private cer- That seemed to leave open the possibility quently photographed in barely-there couture emony invested him with the insignia of a that Andrew intended to carry on his friend- outfits. Britain's press has likened Ashkenazi Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victo- ship with Epstein. but out of public view. to a James Bond girl, and last summer she rian Order, the highest possible honor for "I remember when Andrew and Jeffrey threw a lavish party in S. Tropez called "Dia- "personal service" to the Queen. From Epstein first became friends." said some- monds Arc a Girl's Best Friend." Invitations now on. Prince Andrew will be entitled to one who knows both men well. -Jeffrey had went out on a diamond-shaped card signed use the letters G.C.V.O. after his name and Andrew put on a pair of sweatpants for the "Madame Gaga." According to one party- wear a red-white-and-blue sash complete first time in his life. He had him wear blue goer. "A lot of rude Russians showed up." with the order's star-shaped insignia. made jeans for the first time. It was Jeffrey who Ashkenazi, who lives in a multi-million- from sterling silver, silver gilt, and enamel. taught Andrew how to relax. dollar mansion in London's Holland Park. Under the protection of the Queen, "But the major reason Andrew hung out brokered the sale of Andrew's Sunninghill Prince Andrew was untouchable. with Jeffrey was to get money for Sarah Mil VANITY /Ali .....gno,fatt cc+ AUGUST 20t I EFTA01166336