Is the monarchy at risk? With a new book threatening new allegations against Prince Andrew, the Royal Family has finally cut him loose. Some think it may not be enough to save them.
Downfall of Britain’s ‘pariah prince’
Playboy to pariah: Reports suggest that the future king, Prince William, will ban Andrew (above) from his coronation. Comprehension quiz
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The word “prerogatives” in this context means:
A: Financial payments made to the Royal Family
B: Criticisms made against the government
C: Laws that apply to everyone in the country
D: Special rights or privileges held by a particular person or group
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Which word is the closest synonym for “jettison”?
A: Forgive
B: Discard
C: Question
D: Defend
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Which of the following statements from the article is presented as an expert inference rather than a verifiable fact?
A: “Eighteen to 24-year-olds are evenly split, with 42% in favour of abolition and 41% against…”
B: “In 2014, Virginia Giuffre… alleged that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions…”
C: “Many experts believe this [Giuffre’s posthumous memoir] is what pushed the Royal Family to jettison Andrew.”
D: “Andrew… first came under scrutiny in 2011 when it was revealed that he had been friends with Jeffrey Epstein…”
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What is the effect of including Virginia Giuffre’s claim that Andrew “believed having sex with me was his birthright”?
A: To show that Prince Andrew was proud of his family history.
B: To suggest that the writer does not have any knowledge of the allegations.
C: To link Andrew’s alleged behaviour directly to his sense of royal entitlement.
D: To prove that Prince Andrew has officially lost his right to the throne.
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According to the article, which two of the following are reasons why the monarchy might survive this scandal?
A: Prince Andrew has renounced all his titles.
B: It has a history of successfully reinventing itself after previous scandals.
C: Parliament is not allowed to scrutinise the royals.
D: It still has solid support among the British public.
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In your own words, summarise the two opposing viewpoints in the article about the future of the monarchy.
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. D 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. B and D 6. One viewpoint is that this could be the "beginning of the end" for the monarchy because the scandal suggests the institution itself encouraged his behaviour and Parliament is becoming less supportive. The opposing view is that the monarchy will survive because it still has strong public support and has a history of recovering from scandals.
1. D 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. B and D 6. One viewpoint is that this could be the "beginning of the end" for the monarchy because the scandal suggests the institution itself encouraged his behaviour and Parliament is becoming less supportive. The opposing view is that the monarchy will survive because it still has strong public support and has a history of recovering from scandals.
Glossary
Duke of York - A title of nobility in the United Kingdom. It is usually given to the second son of British monarchs.
Prince Andrew - The third child of Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II.
Dukedom - A territory ruled by a duke.
Jeffrey Epstein - He was a financier arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking. He was denied bail ahead of his trail and died while in jail. His death has been officially ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner, though a pathologist hired by Epstein's brother claims it may have been a murder.
Trafficking - The act of buying or selling goods, or moving people from place to place, illegally.
Virginia Giuffre - A campaigner who offered support to victims of sex trafficking. She has accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her. Andrew eventually settled out of court. Giuffre died in April 2025 aged 41.
Newsnight - An investigative news television programme produced by the BBC in the UK.
Posthumous - After death.
Jettison - Abandon or throw away.
Confidants - People you can share your secrets or feelings with.
Playboy - A man who lives a luxurious or pleasure-seeking lifestyle, often spending a lot of time and money on parties, travel, fashion, and especially romantic or sexual relationships. It can also refer to Playboy magazine, featuring semi-naked and naked women.
Prerogatives - Rights or privileges that particular individuals or groups have.
Elizabeth II - Queen Elizabeth II. She died in 2022 aged 96, and was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries for 70 years.
King Charles - Charles III has been Britain's king since 2022.
PR - Public Relations — the practice of managing how others see a brand or person.