Prince Andrew ‘furious’ after losing his police protection

The Duke of York’s round-the-clock protection has been estimated to cost up to $5.3m to maintain.

Britain's Prince Andrew. Picture: AFP

The Duke of York is expected to lose his police protection three years after being stripped of royal duties.

Prince Andrew’s bodyguards are to be withdrawn as the King has made clear that there can be no return to the front line of public life after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Andrew is planning to complain to ministers and Scotland Yard about the loss of his security, The Sun on Sunday reported.

The dispute echoes the Duke of Sussex’s frustration over the withdrawal of automatic police bodyguards when he and his family visit Britain.

Andrew was said to be furious that he would no longer be escorted by police guards whenever he left the grounds of Windsor Castle. His round-the-clock protection has been estimated to cost between 500,000 to 3 million pounds ($900,000 to $5.3m).

The duke lost his military affiliations and royal patronages in January when he failed in his attempt to quash a civil lawsuit in the United States brought by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed to have been forced to have sex with him.

He also lost his right to be addressed officially as His Royal Highness.

Andrew made an out-of-court settlement in February with Giuffre, who has said she was Epstein’s “sex slave”.

The prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The Times