Queen ‘paying son’s debts to save face’

The prince withdrew from his frontline role six months ago, following a disastrous BBC interview about his friendship with the late billionaire.

Andrew, 60, is said to have been hopeful he would be redeemed and allowed to return to “the Firm”.

But insiders say those hopes have now disappeared.

Royal sources have told how the Duke of York’s presence around Buckingham Palace was considered “toxic” after he failed to apologise for his relationship with Epstein during the Newsnight special last November.

He was ordered to vacate his official office at the Palace and has stepped back from most charity commitments.

To add to his humiliation,

LEGAL ROW The Swiss lodge

THE Queen is to pay off Prince Andrew’s huge debt to save her son further embarrassment, it was reported yesterday.

Her Majesty will step in to end the Duke and Duchess of York’s feud with a French socialite over a luxury home in the Swiss ski resort

that documents that could make or break Prince Andrew’s alibi for the night he is alleged to have had sex with Ms Roberts in London remain locked in a Met Police storage unit.

A former Royal protection officer has said he believes Andrew may have returned to the Palace in the early hours of the night in question, in 2001.

If Andrew did return, it would contradict his claim of being at home at Sunninghill Park, in Berkshire, all evening, after earlier taking his daughter, Beatrice, to Pizza Express in Woking.

Buckingham Palace said nothing had changed since the Duke released a statement in November.

Epstein, 66, was found dead in his prison cell last year, after apparently killing himself while awaiting trial over sex trafficking charges. of Verbier. Isabelle de Rouvre sold the Yorks the seven-bedroom lodge for £18million in 2014 but she is now pursuing the royal couple through the courts, alleging that they still owe her £6.7million.

An insider told US mag Air Mail the Queen will pay the debt herself.