No crowds for troubled Andrew on Aussie visit
PRINCE ANDREW’S bid to rebuild his reputation after the Jeffrey Epstein paedophile scandal suffered a setback in Australia after just one fan turned out for an official visit.
Schoolteacher and royalist Renae Grljusich-poolman was the only member of the public outside Perth’s Murdoch University when the Duke’s entourage swept in.
It was in sharp contrast to Harry and Meghan’s recent tour of South Africa, which saw flag-waving crowds lining the streets.
Ms Grljusich-poolman said the lack of supporters was “disappointing”, adding that speculation surrounding the Prince and his former links to the dead billionaire sex offender, had probably “marred his credibility”.
The Prince is on a working visit to the country in his role as founder of the Pitch@palace initiative, which encourages young entrepreneurs to try to sell their ideas to potential investors.
On Friday he attended a series of presentations at West Australian Government House alongside state governor Kim Beazley.
Andrew jetted into Australia on Monday as it emerged that the FBI was expanding it probe into the child-sex trafficking scandal. US investigators have identified more of Epstein’s victims and plan to question them about the royal.
French police are also reportedly looking into claims that Prince Andrew, 59, regularly visited Epstein’s £7million flat in Paris, which was raided last month.
Epstein accuservirginia Roberts Giuffre alleged she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.
The claims, which were made in a US civil case, have been investigated in the UK and dismissed by a judge who called them “immaterial and impertinent”.
Prince Andrew has strongly denied all allegations against him calling them “false” and “without foundation”.
Last week his former wife Sarah Ferguson broke her silence on Andrew’s ties to Epstein insisting she would support him.
She said: “I think the most important thing in life is familyhood.”
Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail in August while awaiting trial.