People should be more ‘forgiving’ towards Prince Andrew, Archbishop of Canterbury says

Reverend Justin Welby said the prince was 'making amends' after his sex abuse scandal

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said Prince Andrew is "seeking to make amends" following his sex abuse scandal and that society has become "very unforgiving" towards the royal. He told ITV News: "We all have to step back a bit, he is seeking to make amends and I think that's a very good thing.

"You can't tell people how they are to respond about this, and the issues of the past in the area of abuse are so intensely personal and private for so many people that it's not surprising there's very deep feelings indeed."

The Most Revd Justin Welby was discussing whether the upcoming Platinum Jubilee would help the country forgive Andrew in the aftermath of the scandal. He added: "We have become a very unforgiving society." https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1531667219620438017 Earlier this year, Prince Andrew settled the sexual abuse lawsuit launched against him by Virginia Giuffre, who accused the royal of having sex with her when she was 17 and had been trafficked by his friend, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always strenuously denied the allegations, claiming he had never even met Giuffre. But he ended up paying her £12m in an out-of-court settlement, avoiding a trial. The Archbishop went on to describe the Queen's 70 year reign as "something extraordinary to celebrate," and that he thinks the Jubilee will "lift people's spirits." The Archbishop has been forced to pull out of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this weekend due to having covid-19 and pneumonia. Most Revd Justin Welby tested positive for covid on Monday and has been suffering from mild pneumonia.

The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will now deliver the sermon at Friday’s Service of Thanksgiving.

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