Prince Andrew: profiles in the social networks are no longer accessible

Enlarge image

Prince Andrew is threatened with trial in the United States

Photo: Neil Hall / dpa

Amid allegations of abuse in the US, several of Prince Andrew's social media profiles have been deleted or made private.

When searching for the Duke of York on Twitter and YouTube, an error message appears.

The Instagram and Facebook pages seemed to be working at first, but the Instagram page was limited to private access.

The American Virginia Giuffre accuses the Queen's son of having repeatedly sexually abused her as a minor a good 20 years ago.

She demands compensation.

Giuffre alleges that the late US entrepreneur Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was recently found guilty in the case, referred her to Andrew and pressured her into having sex with the nobleman.

The prince categorically rejects this.

Last week, the US District Judge dismissed a motion to dismiss "in all respects."

The allegations are clear, unambiguous and "legally sufficient" for a hearing, the judge wrote in his decision.

Without an out-of-court settlement, Andrew is now threatened with trial.

Pressure on Andrew mounts

Because of the allegations and his previous contacts with the now dead US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew gave up his royal duties in 2019 and largely withdrew from the public. He's now rid of the designation "Royal Highness" and his honorary military titles. More than 150 veterans of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and British Army had previously sent an open letter to the Queen asking her to relieve him of his roles.

But the pressure mounts for Andrew to return all awards and burn royal bridges to actually face a likely civil trial as a normal citizen.

A councilor in the northern English city of York, who gave his title the Duke of York, called for Andrew to be stripped of the traditional designation.

Now he seems to be rid of his official pages on social networks.

hba/dpa/AFP