Prince Andrew unlikely ever to return to public life after Epstein scandal and disastrous BBC interview

Prince Andrew may never return to royal duties after revelations about his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, royal sources have said.

The Duke of York was further hit by a disastrous Newsnight interview and is bracing himself for more allegations from a woman who claims she slept with him while she was a sex slave of Epstein.

In Monday’s Panorama programme in the UK, Virginia Roberts, 35, who claims she had sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17, is expected to reveal more details about her time with him.

Prince Andrew has always categorically denied any wrongdoing and has condemned Epstein.

According to The Sun there is real concern in the Royal family about what she might say and the possibility of the involvement of the FBI, the Mirror reports.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 27, 2015 Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York salutes military personnel during the Armed Forces day parade in Guildford. - Prince Andrew on November 20, 2019 said he was cancelling his public engagements, as the outcry from the British royal's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein showed no sign of abating. (Photo by Justin TALLIS / AFP)

“Prince Andrew has been given the worst-case scenario for him and his involvement with the family – that he may never be able to return to the front line of duty,” a Royal source said.

“The Duke of York suggested he will take a back step from public life for the foreseeable future but the reality is he has been told it could be for a very, very long time, potentially for ever.”

The 59-year-old was forced to step down from royal duties following his disastrous interview with Emily Maitlis on November 16 — with charities and businesses dumping him as their patron in the fallout.

FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, delivers a speech in ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Britain's Prince Andrew said Wednesday Nov. 20, 2019, that he is stepping back from public duties with the queen's permission. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, FILE)

He was widely criticised for failing to show remorse for his friendship with Epstein or empathy for the paedo’s victims.

The most recent of the many organisations that have cut ties with him is his beloved Golf Foundation.

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Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell in August as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre

In a teaser for her BBC Panorama interview, Virginia Roberts - who also uses her married name Guiffre -  describes her time with the duke’s convicted paedophile pal as “really scary”.

She claims she had sex with Andrew in 2001 after they went to Tramp nightclub in London, and claims they were introduced by Epstein's girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

This story first appeared in The Sun and is republished with permission.

Originally published as Prince Andrew unlikely ever to return to public life after Epstein scandal and disastrous BBC interview