In the most recent segment of Saturday Night Live‘s ‘The Weekend Update,’ co-host Michael Che took a jab at former Prince Andrew, who had his title and residency revoked last week amid the ongoing scandal of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
During the segment, Che joked to the American audience: ‘Andrew says he can only become prince again if he gets a kiss from a young princess.’
The joke alluded to serious allegations that Andrew had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with underage girls that were provided to him by the convicted sex offender. Andrew denies all allegations.
The accusations have caused a political firestorm for the Royal Family and have been a source of major controversy across the pond.
Andrew lied about cutting ties with Epstein, and a disturbing posthumous memoir from his alleged victim Virginia Giuffre was released on October 21, which caused the controversy to grow even more.
Giuffre, who took her own life this year at the age of 41, described years she said she spent as a sex slave to Epstein and his British madame Ghislaine Maxwell in her book titled Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice.
Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein three times for sex with Andrew, called the ex-duke ‘entitled’ and said he viewed sex as his ‘birthright,’ extracts read.
The book also alleged that her first encounter with Andrew was when she was just 17 years old, which means the former Prince would have been around 41.
The Weekend Update co-host Michael Che took a jab at former Prince Andrew, saying: ‘Andrew says he can only become prince again if he gets a kiss from a young princess’
Andrew was accused of having a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and having sex with underage girls that were provided to him by the convicted sex offender
The joke about Andrew was well received by the public – with many taking to social media saying they found the segment hilarious.
One wrote: ‘Weekend Update never misses — satire remains undefeated.’
Andrew denied having sex with Giuffre, but forked out millions in an out of court settlement in February 2022.
The Royal Family was prepared for the further scandal the book would likely cause, knowing it would be published in October.
And in response to the growing controversy, Buckingham Palace released a bombshell statement on October 30 announcing that Andrew will no longer be referred to as a prince and is to leave the Royal Lodge.
The former prince will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and has been stripped of all his titles. Even his honorary rank of vice-admiral is now in conversation for removal.
In Thursday’s announcement from Buckingham Palace, the statement said: ‘These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
‘Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.’
Andrew was served a notice to surrender his lease at the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor Great Park, where the former prince lived for two decades while paying ‘peppercorn rent.’
The younger brother of the King will be moved to a property on the Sandringham estate but the specifics regarding the relocation are unknown.
A posthumous memoir released on October 21 accused Epstein of trafficking Virginia Giuffre three times for sex with Andrew
Andrew lied about cutting ties with Epstein, which was proved by this picture of him with Epstein in New York’s Central Park in 2011
Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in a photo reportedly taken in 2001, when Giuffre was 17 years old
The Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Andrew’s former home
The move to strip Andrew of his titles and residency was entirely down to the King and his advisers, without pressure from the government or other family members, such as Prince William, sources told the Daily Mail.
The King had made it clear he would not hesitate to take ‘further action’ if his younger brother continued to cling on to his dukedom and other honors after he lied about cutting ties with pedophile financier Epstein, the Daily Mail previously revealed.
Despite the tsunami of evidence mounting against him, Andrew was understood to still be ‘digging his heels in’ with a ‘startling lack of contrition’ – a situation the King deemed ‘intolerable’, sources previously said.
Saturday Night Live has previously joked about Andrew and his controversies.
In 2022, when Giuffre was suing Andrew for alleged sexual abuse, Che’s co-host Colin Jost joked about the former prince being stripped of his royal duties by the late Queen Elizabeth.
