Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style At Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Coco Gauff's New Balances
    • Dyson
    • Postpartum Texts
    • Ayan Broomfield
    • Everyday Handbags
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    The "Lingering Stain" of Ex-Prince Andrew's Jeffrey Epstein Association Might Be "Cleansed" by Royal Family's New "Secret Weapon"

    "Their sheer presence reinforces the hope of happier decades ahead."

    Amy Mackelden's avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 30 December 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Prince Andrew looks bemused while looking at something wile wearing a suit with a white shirt and a golden tie, he has white gray hair
    (Image credit: Getty Images/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    In October 2025, King Charles demoted his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following renewed interest in his former association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. All of Andrew's royal titles were removed and he agreed to leave his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. Now, a royal "secret weapon" has apparently emerged to help "cleanse" the aftermath of the former Duke of York's Epstein connection.

    "The Royal Family have unveiled their secret weapon to erase Andrew," the Express reported. "As the ghost of vile Jeffrey Epstein swirls around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson," the royals appear to have shown that their "new hope" is the next generation.

    Referencing the Royal Family's Christmas Day walkabout in Sandringham, the outlet said the excursion provided "a glimmer of hope and joy for 2026—and the prospect of rosier years ahead." As for how the festive event provided hope, the publication shared, "Walking side-by-side with a wrapped-up William and Catherine were their beaming children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and teddy bear-carrying Prince Louis, age 7."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Princess Charlotte Prince Louis Christmas

    The excursion provided "a glimmer of hope and joy for 2026."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    The Express suggested that George, Charlotte, and Louis "are just as much the bright future of the monarchy as they are refreshingly natural on the world stage." The outlet further noted that "their sheer presence reinforces the hope of happier decades ahead on the distant horizon for the embattled Royal Family."

    The publication also referred to Prince George's appearance alongside his dad, Prince William, at The Passage, a charity beloved by Princess Diana. By stepping into a more public Royal Family role, George has already shown he's preparing for his future.

    You may like
    • Prince William wearing sunglasses  in the stands at Wimbledon Prince William Could Follow in One European Queen's Title-Stripping Footsteps
    • Prince Andrew attending Garter Day wearing long ceremonial robes and a black hat with a large white feather protruding from the top and a red sash and a gold chain Ex-Prince Andrew Has Been Totally Banned From Garter Day
    • Prince William sitting in the stands at the Commonwealth Games talking to Prince Louis and Prince George Prince William Follows in One Unexpected Royal’s Parenting Footsteps

    Prince Louis grabs a giant chocolate gift from a fan and his dad runs damage control

    "The trio seem both very human and humane."

    (Image credit: Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)

    "But above all the trio seem both very human and humane in how they show their individual characters, all the while under the judging glare of the public and the press," the Express reported.

    As Andrew is removed from the royal spotlight, George, Charlotte, and Louis could provide the "cleansing wave" the family needs most, the outlet shared. Per the Express, Princess Kate and Prince William's children might finally be able to "wash clean the lingering stain of Andrew and Fergie—and erode the millstone of Jeffrey Epstein's memory that still weighs heavily on the Royal Family."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    While this might seem like somewhat of an insurmountable task, it's impossible to deny that George, Charlotte, and Louis are already beloved by royal fans everywhere.

    Explore More
    Prince Andrew Prince William King Charles Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    Prince William wearing sunglasses  in the stands at Wimbledon
    Royals Prince William Could Follow in One European Queen's Title-Stripping Footsteps
    By Kristin Contino
    Prince Harry smiling in front of a step and repeat
    Royals Royal Fans Hope Prince Harry "Reunites With" One Relative
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Prince William and Prince Harry standing back to back
    Royals Prince Harry's Move Will Make it Hard for William to "Duck a Reconciliation"
    By Kristin Contino
    Lady Louise, Duchess Sophie, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louise and Kate Middleton on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during King Charles's coronation
    Royals This Low-Key Young Royal Is Taking a Different Path Than William and Harry
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Queen Elizabeth wears a lilac coat and matching hat with a green feather and drops a bouquet given to her by a royal fan in 2010 at Eton
    Royals Fan's Gift Caused Queen Elizabeth to Make a Rare Faux Pas
    Meghan Markle wears a white dress with a matching hat, while Prince Harry and King Charles wears suits and top hats at Royal Ascot in 2018
    Royals Charles Reveals His Position on Harry and Meghan's Return
     
     
    King Charles, And Queen Camilla, And King Harald Attending An Official Dinner At The Royal Palace In Oslo in 2012
    Royals One Royal Will Miss King Harald's Funeral After Being Hospitalized
    Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton join King Charles on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020.
    Royals King Charles Displays "A Unique Form of Watchful Attention"
     
     
    Latest in News
    Queen Elizabeth wears a lilac coat and matching hat with a green feather and drops a bouquet given to her by a royal fan in 2010 at Eton
    Royals Fan's Gift Caused Queen Elizabeth to Make a Rare Faux Pas
    Alexandra Leclerc wearing a red Ferrari dress, she has long brown hair and is pregnant while wearing sunglasses
    Celebrity Style Alexandra Leclerc's Italian Grand Prix Dress Is Red Hot
     
     
    Meghan Markle wears a white dress with a matching hat, while Prince Harry and King Charles wears suits and top hats at Royal Ascot in 2018
    Royals Charles Reveals His Position on Harry and Meghan's Return
    Lili Reinhart pays tribute to Kate Hudson's yellow dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days while promoting The Love Hypothesis, she is a woman with blonde hair
    Celebrity Style Lili Reinhart Recreates Rom-Com History in Kate Hudson's Gown
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.