How Disgraced Prince Andrew Attempted To Build A Suit Of Armor Out Of Philanthropy

For years, Prince Andrew held dozens — some estimates put it around 200 — of charity patronages and official royal-charity affiliations. Through Prince Andrew Charitable Trust (PACT), and initiatives such as his youth-education and entrepreneurship efforts, he presented himself as a public-spirited royal using his status to do good. That network of charities and institutions provided him with a veneer of respectability and influence: being associated with educational causes, technology and enterprise awards, youth outreach, and philanthropic work helped him cultivate an image of legitimacy and public service. This charitable web likely served as a buffer — intended to reassure the public and institutions that despite the scandal swirling around him, he remained a committed royal working for social good.But as the scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein and abuse allegations gained traction, that armor cracked. After his controversial 2019 media interview, many charities began severing ties: dozens publicly removed him as patron, fearing reputational damage.  Moreover, regulatory scrutiny exposed mis-management in his own charity: the watchdog closed PACT after finding unlawful payments (hundreds of thousands of pounds) to a trustee linked to his staff, forcing the charity to return the money.   What began as a shield against scandal became, for many observers, proof that his charitable works lacked proper governance — and that the network he hoped would protect him instead deepened the perceived misconduct.to contact me:[email protected] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.