Angela Rayner fights to banish Prince Andrew from royal duties
- Angela Rayner expressed strong disdain for Prince Andrew's connections to Jeffrey Epstein and his eligibility for royal duties.
- She actively reached out to Buckingham Palace and civil servants in an attempt to remove him from the royal list.
- These actions showcase her moral stance on addressing issues within the royal family and the national government.
In the United Kingdom, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, made significant efforts to prevent Prince Andrew from being included in a list of royals eligible to act as councillors of state for King Charles III. This list, which included Prince Andrew among others like Camilla and Prince William, became a point of contention due to Prince Andrew's controversial past, particularly regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Reports indicated that Rayner, expressing her moral stance, reached out proactively to Buckingham Palace and senior civil servants, advocating for the removal of Andrew from the royal duties due to his links with Epstein and allegations against him, including accusations of sexual abuse. Rayner's approach was characterized by a sense of urgency and determination; she expressed to her staff that she could not support legislation that would allow Andrew to continue in a role that she deemed unacceptable. This situation became more pressing during the negotiations for a new list of royals to serve in capacities traditionally filled by the monarch. Rayner's comments reflected her views on the Royal Family, which she described as dysfunctional yet expressed sympathy for the institution itself. Her actions and statements are detailed in the upcoming book 'Get In' by Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund, which covers the Labour Party's dynamics under the leadership of Keir Starmer, revealing intricate details about party politics and leadership challenges regarding royal matters.