Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
No way back for Andrew despite his return plans
DIRE Duke on BBC Newsnight
PRINCE Andrew has “no way” of getting back to royal duties despite hatching a plot to return and serve his country, say royal sources.
The Duke of York is reportedly working on “reframing” a role that he hopes will map his return to public duties next year.
Andrew, 60, was banished from representing The Firm after a disastrous appearance on BBC Newsnight last November, where he attempted to justify his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke remains under intense pressure to provide evidence, potentially on oath, relating to a catalogue of sex abuse allegations against the disgraced financier, who died in 2019.
But Andrew said in June he has offered to help American
CLAIMS Andrew with Victoria Giuffre and Maxwell in 2001 prosecutors three times in their investigation.
Andrew is also alleged to have had sex on three occasions with a 17-year-old “sex slave” of Epstein’s, Virginia Giuffre, who claims that both the billionaire and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, a long term of friend of Andrew’s, forced her into having relations with him. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
One royal source said: “Andrew would do well to keep his head down.”
Any return to a public role would need to be negotiated with the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, palace officials and the Government.
A source close to the
Duke said last night: “Any future public role for the
Duke would – and should – be different.”
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