Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

No way back for Andrew despite his return plans

- BY RUSSELL MYERS Royal Editor

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.”

TALKS

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