As more Epstein files emerge, the story around former prince Andrew 'isn't going away'

The eviction of the former prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the 30-room mansion he had leased near Windsor Castle came to fruition early this past week.

That eviction from a property on the Crown Estate is but one part of the multi-faceted fallout in the scandal surrounding his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, 65, was reportedly in no hurry to leave Royal Lodge and move to King Charles's private estate of Sandringham, northeast of London. 

But his departure — under the cover of darkness, according to British media reports — came just days after another tranche of Epstein documents released in the U.S. included questionable photos of Andrew, and the BBC reported new allegations linking the two men. Among the photos were ones that appeared to show Andrew crouched on his hands and knees over a woman lying on the floor.

As much as the move to Sandringham may be intended to further isolate Andrew, there is no sense the scrutiny and controversy surrounding the King's younger brother will abate.

Amid that scrutiny there is growing pressure on Andrew — including from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer — to testify in the U.S. about what he knows about Epstein.

"This question of Andrew testifying won't go away," Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert and lecturer in law at Royal Holloway, University of London, said in an interview.

"As to whether he actually does or not … I think it's very unlikely because if he says, 'Oh, I saw all this' and what have you, it'd be like: 'Well, why didn't you come out earlier?'

"And if he says he didn't see anything, no one would really believe him."

It's a situation, Prescott said, "where there's no good outcome for Andrew, and by extension no real good outcome for the Royal Family."

Whether Starmer said with or without King Charles's approval that Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress is an interesting question, Prescott said. 

He says it shows how far Andrew has fallen: "There's no element of protecting ... Andrew anymore."

The controversy around Andrew has been growing for several years, especially since 2019 when he stepped back from official royal duties after a disastrous BBC interview regarding his friendship with Epstein. 

Andrew, who has continued to deny all allegations against him, also agreed to settle a lawsuit in which he was accused of sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre.