The U.K.'s Prince Andrew: Ruined and Disgraced

Volume 7, Issue No. 21

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . 

Our latest as of Tuesday, October 21, 2025 

~ The erstwhile Duke of York - that's (ex) Prince Andrew - younger brother of King Charles, and uncle of Prince William, heir apparent to the throne, has been divested of his royal duties for his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who died by suicide in 2019, and his cohort, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving 20 years in prison in the United States. The developments in London are interesting for Canadians, especially because Canada is tethered to the United Kingdom though its monarch. 

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

THE BRITISH MONARCHY

The Saga of Prince Andrew:

Disgraced and Stripped of Royal Duties

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Around thrones the thunder rolls.” ― C.J. Sansom

TORONTO - Current news developments in the British capital involve the disgraced 65-year-old Prince Andrew, erstwhile Duke of York and brother of reigning King Charles. Andrew Albert Christian Edward is no longer "His Royal Highness."

His fall is intensely reported in world media, much of it owing to his association with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted cohort Ghislaine Maxwell, the former British socialite now serving a 20-year jail sentence in the United States.

From a journalism standpoint, Andrew's still-unfolding story is great fodder for news reporting. It's quite rare for a royal to be sucked into a news cycle as demeaning as this where the once second heir to the throne is a major actor.

For Canadians, it feels extremely pernicious to see the second son of Queen Elizabeth II tumble into disrepute. The relevance is in witnessing in real time how a person of wealth, power and influence could be so abusive.

Multiple news reports from London say Prince William, 43, Prince of Wales and heir to King Charles, 76, will ban Andrew, his uncle, from all royal duties when he becomes king. (Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZewturXN70).

The evolving drama should be of interest to us, especially to Canadians and Filipino-Canadians, particularly because we're politically tethered to the United Kingdom by virtue of Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.

As a former British colony, Canada is one of the 15 realms in the Commonwealth whose head of state is King Charles, father of Prince William. As Canadians, we pledge allegiance to the King.

The Oath of Citizenship that we recite and sign to become citizen of Canada is a "declaration of fealty to Canada in the name of the Canadian monarch (presently King Charles) and a promise to abide by Canada's laws and customs."

That kind of impersonal relationship with the British monarchy through King Charles may create some concern for some of us who may have some affinity in the UK through marriage or other means.

The saga of Andrew, though far removed from us, is indeed intriguing. It's a real life drama many Filipino Canadians find watching in their favourite soap opera on television.

But that is not to diminish its significance. After all, Canada, as a constitutional monarchy, has for its head of state King Charles. That ties us up with the United Kingdom of which we are a part. (Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved).