Campaign Group Republic Considers Private Prosecution Against Prince Andrew. Campaign group Republic says it has instructed lawyers to explore a private prosecution against Prince Andrew over allegations of sexual assault, corruption, and misconduct in public office. The anti-monarchy organisation called it an “unprecedented step,” saying legal action would proceed if investigations support prosecution. The move comes amid renewed controversy surrounding Andrew’s links to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew, who denies all allegations, relinquished his royal titles earlier this month ahead of the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs. Giuffre accused Andrew in a 2021 U.S. lawsuit of sexually assaulting her on three occasions after being introduced by Epstein; the case was settled out of court for around £12 million. In a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, Andrew claimed he had “no recollection” of meeting Giuffre and suggested a photo showing them together was doctored. The controversy deepened this week as Parliament’s spending watchdog questioned the prince’s “peppercorn” rent at Royal Lodge, where he lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Republic’s chief executive Graham Smith criticised both police and political responses as “weak and deferential,” insisting there are still “questions to be answered. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]