Will Legal Troubles Stop Prince Andrew From Seeing His Daughter?

After spending some time in isolation, a certain disgraced royal may be making a public appearance if reports are believed to be true. After facing a lawsuit for alleged sexual assault and retreating into hiding, legal troubles are stopping Prince Andrew from seeing his daughter, Princess Beatrice. However, she is expecting a child and the pregnancy may be enough to push him into the public eye once again, which would risk him finally being served the papers he has been so intentionally avoiding. 

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in August of 2021 that accused him of allegedly sexually abusing her while she was a minor, per ABC. Giuffre claims that Andrew allegedly assaulted her at Epstein's mansion in Manhattan as well as other locations before she turned 18. She came forward almost exactly two years after Epstein died in jail in the midst of his own court case for charges of conspiracy and child sex trafficking, per Page Six. 

Following the accusations, Andrew retreated to Queen Elizabeth's Scottish home, Balmoral, preventing the courts from properly serving him with legal papers, Page Six reported. He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and remained in hiding to avoid the courts, but with a pregnant child in the hospital, he may have no choice but to come out. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Buckingham Palace announced Princess Beatrice was pregnant earlier this year before going on to confirm that the baby was due in the fall, per Daily Express. Her child will mark the fourth royal baby of the year; following August Philip Hawke Brooksbank (of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank), Lucas Philip Tindall (of Zara and Mike Tindall), and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor (of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle). While no exact due date was given for this latest royal bundle of joy, speculation that she was going into labor began after news broke that Beatrice had been rushed to the hospital, per Daily Mail.

Along with speculation of a coming baby, other reports came out that Prince Andrew would break his isolation to be there with her. "Prince Andrew obviously hasn't wanted to leave Balmoral when lawyers are still trying to serve the lawsuit papers but his daughter comes first and he will want to be there for her," a royal insider told The Sun, adding, "He could end up staying on the estate and waiting for Beatrice to come to him once she's given birth. But I'm sure he will want to go to her."

Prince Andrew may be willing to risk a legal battle to see his daughter and grandchild, but the repercussions could be great. Should he finally be served with papers and taken to court, a conviction would be a striking blow to the prince and the royal family as a whole.