‘UK royal household could face child abuse inquiry’

A report says the British royal family may be investigated as part of an inquiry into pedophilia.

Justice Lowell Goddard, the New Zealand judge chairing the ‘Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse,’ did not primarily include the royal family in a list of institutions to face the probe over historical crimes.

However, a statement from the inquiry later confirmed the monarchy would also be “within the scope” of the investigation, RT reported.

The probe may take up to five years and cost £100 million, as authorities will reportedly investigate every level of British society including local authorities, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the National Health Service (NHS), the media and armed forces.

“There is no limit on the types of institutions that fall within the terms of reference. The monarchy is an institution and it runs a number of other institutions, all of which are potentially within the scope of the inquiry,” the judge in the case was quoted as saying.

The royal household has come under scrutiny in recent years following several allegations of child sexual abuse.

Prince Andrew came under media spotlight in January after being accused of having forced sexual relations with an American teenager who was underage at the time.

He was named in court papers relating to an ongoing civil case by Virginia Roberts, 30, against convicted billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in the United States.

Several British government figures who were prominent in the 1980s have since faced allegations of sexual impropriety.