The Queen ordered her son Prince Andrew to step down from public duties and stripped him of ‘salary’ after discussing the Epstein scandal with Charles.
The action was taken because of The Duke of York’s friendship with billionaire US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew revealed friendship with Epstein was a distraction for the Royals.
The Queen had a lengthy discussion with the Prince of Wales and they summoned Andrew to Buckingham Palace and told him to step down.
A friend of Andrew told The Sun: ‘The Queen summoned the Duke to Buckingham Palace to tell him her decision. It was a devastating moment for both of them. His reputation is in tatters. It is unlikely he will ever perform royal duties again. He is disgraced.’
It was not an easy decision for The Queen as Andrew is her favorite son and he will no longer receive his Sovereign Grant allowance because that funds expenses for his official duties, such as travel. But he will get income from his income from the Queen’s private funds.
The Palace released the Duke’s statement on stepping down.
A royal source said: “The Queen was privately very disappointed with Prince Andrew, despite the public efforts to rally round.’’
“It’s wrong to think that she just accepted his version of events, that the interview had gone well and there was nothing to worry about.’’
“She saw the fallout and was very unhappy. She has spent her whole life protecting the monarchy and in just one week her son’s actions threatened to tear it apart.
“Something had to be done to draw a line under all of this.”
Royal author Penny Junor said: “This is absolutely unprecedented that a fairly senior member of the Royal Family should be forced to retire from public life.”
She added: “I would think the Queen is horrified.”
Andrew’ statement on his parents’ 72nd wedding anniversary, says the Queen allowed him to bow out of royal duties. He also said that he is willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency’s investigations into convicted sex offender Epstein, found dead in his jail cell in August.
Prince Charles had a conversation on the phone with Charles, 71, who is in New Zealand, reports The Sun.
A senior Palace source said: “Charles was very involved in the decision as heir to the throne. He knew action had to be taken. The Duke knew he couldn’t fight any more. His royal career is over.”
Andrew’s life will transform overnight. A Palace courtier said: “He is stepping back from all his patronages as well.
“There will be no activity for any charities. No public activities whatsoever.
“But the Queen has told him he remains a member of the Royal Family. He will still appear during Trooping the Colour and on the balcony at major events.”
[rumble video_id=v5f49n domain_id=u7nb2]