Royal family decides there’s ‘no way back’ for Prince Andrew

Senior royals have held a secret summit to decide scandal-plagued Prince Andrew’s fate – and it’s not good news for the Duke of York.

Prince Andrew’s siblings decided nine months ago there was “no way back” for the scandal-hit royal, it’s been revealed.

According to The Sun, Charles, Anne and Edward held a summit in January where they ruled the Duke of York should never return to public life.

It was reported last night that Prince William sees his uncle as a threat to the monarchy’s future.

Andrew, 61, harbours hopes of a return to royal life despite facing a sex abuse lawsuit in the US.

A source said: “Nine months ago Charles, Anne and Edward had a meeting, a summit, and agreed there was no way back for him.”

Prince Andrew was hoping to return to public life. Picture: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP

Prince Charles will soon become the next British monarch. Picture: Andrew Milligan/Pool/AFP

Meanwhile, sources close to Prince William revealed to The Sunday Times how he thinks Andrew has an “ungracious and ungrateful” attitude to his position.

This has created public anger and is a risk and threat to the family, the sources claim.

One told The Sunday Times: “There is no way in the world he’s ever coming back, the family will never let it happen.”

William, 39, and dad Charles held separate talks with the Queen when Andrew stepped down from royal duty after his Newsnight interview almost two years ago.

A friend of William claimed: “He is no fan of Uncle Andrew.”

And The Sunday Times’ royal source claimed one of the “triggers” that “really gets” William is his uncle’s attitude.

They added: “Any suggestion there isn’t gratitude for the institution, anything that could lead the public to think that senior members of the family aren’t grateful for their position, (William thinks) is really dangerous.”

Prince William is reportedly not a fan of his uncle. Picture: Matrix

In April, the royals were stunned when Andrew spoke to TV cameras outside All Saints Chapel, Windsor Lodge, two days after Prince Philip’s death.

Charles, 72, was aware of his plan and feared it was a bid to get back in the limelight.

So he got out his own televised tribute from Highgrove — with sources close to Charles saying he acted 24 hours after Philip’s death to make sure he got there first with his “Dear Papa” statement.

A friend told The Sunday Times: “(Andrew) was literally gunning to be in front of a camera and was making it clear to the households that he was going to be in front of a camera ASAP”.

Charles is said to “love his brother” but thinks the sex abuse writ served by his accuser Virginia Giuffre brings “unwelcome reputational damage to the institution”.

A source told the paper “a way back for the Duke is not possible, because the spectre of this accusation raises its head with hideous regularity”.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London, Britain on March 13, 2001. Picture: Florida Southern District Court/Supplied

Andrew’s team, however are said to wish the Royal Family could be much more supportive and engaged, a source said.

They claimed: “They’ve just stuck their fingers in their ears and gone, ‘Make it go away.’

“But (the experience with) Harry and Meghan should have taught them that even when a problem ‘goes away’, it doesn’t go away.

“The Duke can no more be disinvested as a senior member of the royal family than Harry and Meghan can. It is who and what they are. If they don’t engage at all, it is going to become like Harry and Meghan on steroids.”

That allegation has been dismissed by palace aides.

The Queen paying Andy’s legal fees from her Duchy of Lancaster income is also causing a backlash against the royals.

Andrew has twice fled to Balmoral this summer to hide with his mother, and avoid US lawyers attempting to serve the lawsuit.

He even missed the birth of his granddaughter after Princess Beatrice went into labour.

Andrew’s US legal team finally accepted the case had been served on September 21 and a preliminary hearing is due to be held in New York next month.

He has strongly denied all the allegations made by Ms Giuffre and his team are seeking to get the case thrown out before a trial.

Earlier this year we revealed Andrew was going “stir crazy” trapped in his home on the Windsor Great Park and ventured out only to go horse riding.

His friend Ghislaine Maxwell will stand trial in New York next month accused of sex trafficking and assisting Jeffrey Epstein in the recruitment of young girls.

Last night Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Prince Andrew did not comment.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Royal family decides there’s ‘no way back’ for Prince Andrew