Posted: 22:03, 11 June 2022 | Updated: 22:04, 11 June 2022
The queen has secret conversations with the Duke of York and senior members of the royal family about how they can help Prince Andrew rebuild his life “away from the public eye”. The Duke will be attending the annual Order of the Garter ceremony tomorrow, and a senior Palace source has confirmed that meetings are underway behind the scenes to find a new role for him away from the limelight. The queen’s second son was stripped of his military titles and HRH status in January as he prepared to face allegations of sexual abuse, which he has always categorically denied, in a civil lawsuit. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was stripped of his military titles and HRH status in January after facing allegations of sexual abuse. Photo: Queen’s second son enjoys horseback riding in Windsor yesterday He agreed to pay an amount, according to information, up to 12 million pounds to settle the case. With the legal battle over now, the Queen held family reunions at Windsor Castle to determine what role the Duke, who would be accepted by the public, could play. “Clearly at some point he will soon have to think about how to support the Duke, as, away from the public eye, he is slowly seeking to rebuild his life in a different direction,” said a senior Palace source. While it is understandable that Andrew – who was seen riding in Windsor yesterday – is determined to keep his property in the Royal Lodge, one option could be to rebuild his life in Scotland. The source of the Palace added: “There is, of course, real awareness and sensitivity to public feelings. It is also recognized that the task of starting to support him as he begins to rebuild his life will be the first step on a long road and what should not be played every day under the spotlight. “ The Duke – who was absent from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last weekend after Covid’s engagement – remains a member of the historic Garter Order and will attend his annual Windsor Ceremony. In the photo: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of York arrive at Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh The Mail on Sunday understands that there are still concerns in the Palace that any return to public life would be badly received and that the Queen will not reverse her decision to ban Andrew from office. At the time, a statement said: “With the approval and consent of the Queen, the Duke of York’s military relations and royal sponsorship were restored to the Queen.” News of Andrew’s future debates came as he was described as “utterly stupid” because he was embroiled in a new money dispute. French social worker Isabelle de Rouvre – who once owed Andrew millions of pounds after selling his ski chalet to him in the Swiss resort of Verbier – has made the comment amid new allegations that she is involved in a μά 1.6m debt deal linked to the property.
