Prince Andrew may never resume royal duties

Prince Andrew may be exiled from royal life forever as the Epstein fallout continues and his reputation appears unsalvageable.

Prince Andrew could retire from royal life permanently over his “toxic” relationship with paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.

The Queen reportedly “can’t see a way back” for her “favourite” son and the royal family have “no plans” to review his position, according to The Sun.

Andrew, 60, stepped back from public life last year for the “foreseeable future” after his car-crash BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

According to The Sunday Times, the Duke of York had planned to make a return but his hopes appear to have been dashed.

Royal sources are said to have described him as a “busted flush” whose presence is now “toxic”.

Britain's Prince Andrew has stepped back from frontline royal duties over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Picture: AFP

It emerged yesterday the Queen is to pay off Andrew’s £6.7 million ($A12.4 million) ski chalet debt to save her son further embarrassment.

Isabelle de Rouvre sold the Yorks the huge seven-bedroom lodge in Verbier for £18 million ($A33.3 million) in 2014 but she is now pursuing them through the courts, alleging they still owe her $A12.4 million.

An insider told US jet set mag Airmail that the Queen will pay the debt herself — to avoid another scandal engulfing her son following the ­Epstein affair.

EPSTEIN SCANDAL

The scandal started when Epstein’s alleged sex slave Virginia Roberts claims she was forced to have sex with the prince three times when she was a teenager.

Andrew has vehemently denied her claims.

He was forced to quit as a frontline royal last year and gave up the bulk of his charity commitments after many patronages severed ties with him after the Newsnight interview.

Late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a close associate of Prince Andrew. Picture: AP

But pressure has been mounting on him to renounce his military commands and allow other members of the royal family to step up.

During the interview, Andrew suggested that a photograph showing him and Ms Roberts together in the home of Maxwell was faked.

CAR-CRASH INTERVIEW

He said he had “no recollection” of meeting Ms Roberts Giuffre and claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on one of the days they were meant to have had sex.

When asked whether he regretted continuing his friendship with Epstein, the prince said: “Do I regret the fact that he has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes.”

“Unbecoming?” Miss Maitlis replied. “He was a sex offender.”

FBI and federal prosecutors in Manhattan are trying to bring justice for dozens of Epstein’s victims – by going after his alleged accomplices.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (R) and Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York before allegations of his paedophilia came to light. Picture: Getty Images

The FBI have reached out to Andrew for an interview but he claims he was prepared in November to assist US officials.

Epstein, 66, killed himself in jail last year while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking allegations – following numerous bungled probes into his conduct.

Prosecutors had accused him of sexually exploiting dozens of women and girls in New York and Florida before he hanged himself.

The Sun Online has contacted Prince Andrew for comment.

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

Originally published as Prince Andrew may never resume royal duties