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(NewsNation) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is in a lot of trouble — and legally it’s about to get worse for him and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
The Metropolitan Police (London’s police force) has publicly said it is “actively looking into” claims that Andrew asked a close-protection officer in 2011 to dig up personal information — including date of birth and social-security number — about his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
Meanwhile, the U.K. campaign group Republic has instructed lawyers to investigate whether to bring a private prosecution against Andrew for alleged sexual assault, corruption or misconduct in public office.
So how far will it go?
Historian and biographer Andrew Lownie, whose latest tome, “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York” told me: “Andrew is going to be charged with various public offences and misconduct in public office… he’ll probably go to jail. The case against him is pretty clear. He’s absolutely, he’s toast.”
Prince Andrew’s business trips come into question
Andrew was a trade envoy for the U.K. from 2001 – 2011. It is during those years that he would travel the world — and meet with salacious and dubious characters in countries like Libya, Kazakhstan and Laos.
During these trips, Andrew would refuse to stay in the U.K. embassies — preferring to have accommodations in five star hotels where he could have privacy from prying government eyes and rack up hundreds of thousands of pounds in food, accommodation and travel expenses. It is on these trips that alleged meetings with prostitutes took place — as well as dubious personal business dealings.
For example, after a trip to Kazakhstan in 2007, Andrew sold his then-home, Sunninghill Park, a 12-bedroom country house near Windsor, Berkshire, to Kazakhstan oligarch Timur Kulibayev for a whopping $18 million… $5 million over what it was worth at the time.
“He won’t go down for sex trafficking,” Lownie said. “It will be for financial impropriety.”
Fergie’s charitable work scrutinized
As for Andrew’s ex, Fergie, Lownie predicts she will be investigated for her charitable work.
”She has used charities to make money for herself,” Lownie told me.
In the past, Ferguson has been flagged by media and charity watchdogs for several issues, including potential conflict, self-interest or at least blurred lines between philanthropic and personal/commercial interests.
According to her Wikipedia entry (which itself cites media reports), her foundation (Sarah’s Trust) had income of about £250,000 over 18 months, during which only about £14,200 was spent on grants.
She has also been accused of seeking access to the royals for cash, and in 2010, she was filmed by the newspaper News of the World offering access to her ex-husband (the then-royal) for £500,000, in a sting. The transaction allegedly involved a briefcase with £40,000.
Fergie’s commercial ventures (book deals, endorsements, lifestyle brands) sometimes referenced charitable aims or used her charity profile for credibility — something Lownie points out could land her in hot water.
“She’s been basically using charities to make money. So she’s gonna be in trouble there,” Lownie said.
What’s next for Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson?
As for what will actually happen to the former Prince and his wife?
Lownie predicts Andrew will follow the route taken by Spain’s former king, Juan Carlos, who was investigated by multiple countries (including Spain, Switzerland and the UK) for alleged financial misconduct, corruption, and tax evasion. While he was never convicted, the public outcry was such that the King had to abdicate and now lives in exile in Abu Dhabi.
”Andrew will end up in the UAE like Juan Carlos and as for Fergie, she will likely go to live in Portugal and Switzerland while maintaining a small presence in London with help from friends,” Lownie said.
The biographer added, “(Ferguson) did get an offer from a billionaire in Bolivia to live for free there, but it’s unlikely she will do that.”
Either way — the couple is toast in their homeland.