Is this how the British monarchy crumbles? Yesterday, an American woman announced that she would sue Prince Andrew, in a move that could shake the entire UK Royal Family to its core.

This was the rallying cry of Virginia Giuffre, the American woman who began legal proceedings in the USA against Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II.

Giuffre claims Prince Andrew abused her on multiple occasions when she was 17, after she was trafficked to him by multimillionaire Jeffrey EpsteinHe 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..

Andrew denies her allegations and insists he does not remember ever meeting Giuffre. Yet a photo seems to show him posing with his arm around Giuffre's waist in front of Epstein associate Ghislaine MaxwellThe youngest child of publishing tycoon and fraudster Robert Maxwell. She moved to the US after her father's death in 1991 and became a close associate of the financier and subsequently convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein., who is currently also facing trafficking charges. Andrew has suggested the photo is doctored.

Because it is a civil lawsuit, it cannot result in Andrew being sentenced to prison. But if he loses he will have to pay damages, and some may see it as tantamount to proof that he is guilty.

It means Andrew is caught in a trap. If he contests the case, then he can be questioned under oath and forced to hand over letters and records. But if he does not contest it, he can be subject to a judgement in absentia. He could still negotiate a settlementAgreement on payments and undertakings., but this might add weight to the allegations.

Some think this case could have huge implications for the British monarchy.

It is almost impossible to imagine anyone bringing a legal case against Prince Andrew in a UK court. Only once has a member of the Royal Family ever pleaded guilty in a criminal case: in 2002, Princess Anne was fined £500 after one of her dogs attacked children.

Built on sand

The Queen herself enjoys sovereign immunity, which means it is impossible to bring any criminal or civil lawsuit against her. While other members of the Royal Family can be prosecuted, they cannot be arrested in the presence of the Queen or in any of her official residences. The Queen's household is also exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and most anti-discrimination legislation.

Some argue it would be impossible to bring a lawsuit against any of the royals in Britain, because it would be too embarrassing for the monarchy. All criminal prosecutions in the UK are brought in the name of the Queen, so in a case against a member of the Royal Family, Queen Elizabeth would effectively be prosecuting her own relative.

In contrast, they claim, the USA legal system has no interest in blood or family ties. It does not matter that Prince Andrew is a royal, nor that he is far from US soil. That is why for some, this is the triumph of the American meritocratic model over the old world aristocratic system.

Is this how the British monarchy crumbles?

Yes, say some. If this case is decided against Prince Andrew, it will not only be a blow to the British monarchy. It will show up the unfair and unequal British class system. The monarchy should not be surprised if people start to demand an American-style republic.

Not so fast, say others. The USA's legal system might not respect aristocratic bloodlines, but that does not make it egalitarian: very few of the powerful men who were accused of abuse in the MeToo era were brought to trial. In 2008, Epstein was able to negotiate a plea deal that secured immunity for several of his associates and a light sentence for himself on prostitution charges.