ROYAL expert Rafe Heydel-Mankoo has blasted the idea that Prince Andrew might be writing a tell-all memoir, labelling it “Spare 2.0”.
ROYAL expert Rafe Heydel-Mankoo has blasted the idea that Prince Andrew might be writing a tell-all memoir, labelling it “Spare 2.0”.
Speaking to GB News presenter Emily Carver, Mr. Heydel-Mankoo said: “As if one ‘Spare’ wasn’t enough with Prince Harry, we’ve now got the original spare Prince Andrew contemplating his own tell-all memoir, Spare 2.0 as I think some are calling it.
“The motivation we’re told is that Andrew wants to be able to give his side of the story about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein believing that no one else will do it if he doesn’t.
“And if those reports are true, I will just remind Prince Andrew what happened the last time he tried to put the record straight, which resulted in that catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis.
“I’d also remind him actually that although Prince Harry’s book made a lot of money, it was an unmitigated PR disaster for both him and for Meghan.
“It was upon the publication of that book that their poll rating plummeted to new lows, whereby in America they actually have a lower approval rating now than Prince Andrew himself.
“And of course they made themselves great figures of ridicule by everyone from South Park to Chris Rock and late night American talk show hosts.
“So does Andrew really want to expose himself to that sort of ridicule? I think it seems actually that it’s financial necessity that’s actually the driving force here.
“We know that he’s fallen on relatively hard times financially and he’s a man who enjoys expensive comforts.
“He didn’t get any inheritance from the Queen, and the King is dead set to slash royal funding, which means that Prince Andrew may not be able to afford to live at Royal Lodge, and he’s dead set against moving or downsizing to Frogmore Cottage.
“I just wonder actually whether maybe this is all just a bit of a ruse by Prince Andrew perhaps? To have this story leaking now, just before the coronation. This might be the only form of leverage he has.”
Highlighting the decision by King Charles III to postpone his planned trip to France, Mr. Heydel-Mankoo added: “I don’t think there was any other decision that could be made. I mean, you can just imagine the PR for the two palaces, the Elysium Palace and Buckingham Palace, if this had gone ahead.
“I think it would have been extremely unwise in light of everything else that has happened in recent months to do this, particularly when we are literally almost just a month away from the Coronation itself.”
