Omid Scobie, Endgame: Prince Andrew is a ‘ticking time bomb’

A new book claims Prince Andrew is a “ticking time bomb” for the royal family, and how the Palace used its influence to steer press away from negative stories about the Duke of York.

Prince Andrew is a “ticking time bomb” for the royal family, an explosive new book on the monarchy reveals.

Royal writer Omid Scobie in his book Endgame claims Prince William believes there is no way back for his scandal-hit uncle who was accused of sexual assault.

For years the Queen’s second son has been criticised for his friendship with financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and accused of having sex with trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, in 2001 when she was 17.

He has always denied a relationship with Giuffre, who claims she was passed around Epstein’s wealthy friends like a “platter of fruit”.

The Firm was so concerned about the impact of the allegations on the monarchy, they spent years nudging trusted or easily influenced members of the press away from negative Prince Andrew stories, a source claims in the book.

Endgame - Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival by Omid Scobie

Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, a Good Morning America hour long interview with Guiffre never aired after the palace found out and threatened them “a million different ways”, ABC journalist Amy Robach revealed in an unguarded hot mic moment that was leaked.

“We were so afraid that we wouldn’t be able to interview Kate and Will … I tried for three years to get it on to no avail.”

Andrew eventually settled a lawsuit with Guiffre, while still denying the allegations, for a sum believed to be north of $20m.

In the aftermath, while then Prince Charles lay awake worrying about his brother, his son and heir Prince William was the one pushing to strip Andrew of his royal roles and status, the book claims.

“Someone needed to be the firm hand in that situation, and he felt the family (was) being too soft,” a source close to Prince William says.

“The whole thing was casting a long shadow over the entire institution … over all of them.”

Scobie says Prince William took the initiative “when others suffered from inertia”.

Prince Andrew is a “ticking time bomb” for the royal family, an explosive new book on the monarchy reveals. Picture: WireImage

He says right up to his meeting with the Queen, Prince Andrew thought he could still negotiate with his family.

He even brought along his longtime friend and defence lawyer Gary Bloxsome, but the Queen’s aide refused to allow him in and told him to wait in the car.

He was stripped of his HRH status and his titles in 2022.

Scobie says incredibly, Andrew is still hopeful he can “creep back into the public eye”, through charity work.

In a bizarre move, Andrew sent pizzas to a charity that helps human trafficking and sexual exploitation victims believing gestures like this will help his cause.

One source says, “William finds this quite extraordinary. The man is a ticking time bomb!”

However, the ‘Andrew problem; is not going to go away, Scobie claims, with Guiffre announcing she is writing her first memoir, which will be another book the Palace PR machine will have to try and manage.

Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival by Omid Scobie, published by HQ, is on sale November 29. Available at Booktopia.