How Queen Elizabeth Made 'Favorite Son' Prince Andrew ‘Untouchable’ Amid Epstein Scandal

Queen Elizabeth II protected Prince Andrew despite the troubles he brought to the royal family.

Prince Andrew’s connection with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has continued to haunt him. Last week, the Duke of York broke his silence about the controversy and denied the claims that he had sex with Virginia Roberts.

In 2011, Edward Klein covered the same matter in a lengthy article for Vanity Fair with a headline that read, “The Trouble with Andrew.” The American author recalled when a reporter asked the royal if he was an embarrassment to the royal family. The duke reportedly didn’t respond but the answer was clear to his handlers in Buckingham Palace.

The writer also mentioned how some blamed Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for his problems while others pointed to his own mother, Queen Elizabeth II. According to Klein, the Queen protected his favorite son.

“The Queen decided to intervene by employing the most potent instrument at her command: royal symbolism,“ Klein wrote.

The Queen reportedly summoned Prince Andrew to Windsor Castle and in a private ceremony invested him with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, which is the highest possible honor for “personal service” to the Queen.

“From now on, Prince Andrew will be entitled to use the letters G.C.V.O. after his name and wear a red-white-and-blue sash complete with the order’s star-shaped insignia, made from sterling silver, silver gilt, and enamel. Under the protection of the Queen, Prince Andrew was untouchable,” Klein wrote.

This year the royal family faces various controversies involving Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Philip. For this reason, Dan Wootton of The Sun called 2019 the Queen’s “annus horribilis 2.”

However, according to Richard Fitzwilliams, Prince William and Kate Middleton are the Queen’s saving grace. The royal commentator said that 2019 was “extremely good year” for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Fitzwilliams added that Prince William was superb in handling sensitive issues. Meanwhile, Lorraine Kelly said that Middleton has “quietly and effectively emerged as the Queen’s top asset in the Royal Family.”