The Duke of York was left ‘shell-shocked’ as the Queen stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages, a source close to him has said.

Prince Andrew will no longer go by His Royal Highness and will fight his sex abuse lawsuit as a ‘private citizen’.

It is understood he was summoned by his mother on Thursday and told of her decision following an emergency summit with Prince William at Windsor Castle.

Andrew is thought to have been cut off because of the crisis his civil case in New York is causing the Royal Family.

The duke is understood to have no discernible income and will soon own no property once the sale of a £17 million chalet in the Swiss Alps goes through.

He is now said to be fearing ‘financial ruin’, as he faces a potential settlement of £10million with his accuser Virginia Giuffre and lawyers’ fees of at least £2million.

Ms Giuffre, 38, claims she was trafficked by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – an old friend of the duke’s.

She says she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 and a minor under US law.

The duke vehemently denies all allegations and says he can’t even remember meeting his accuser.

Although his legal team believe they can settle out of court, Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies has said she is not motivated by money and ‘wants justice’.

On top of his lawsuit, Andrew has also had to pay £6million to settle an outstanding debt with French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre, who sold him and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson the chalet in 2014.

A royal source told The Mirror: ‘Until very recently it appears the absolute enormity of this case and the consequences he faces has not hit him (Andrew).

‘Now the bills are mounting up and the possibility of a settlement, or even worse a judgement against him, is being widely discussed; he fears complete financial ruin.

‘Andrew thought, indeed he was advised that this would all go away in time and neither has happened, leaving him facing an extraordinary uphill battle to even salvage any crumb of his reputation. There is a very real prospect of him being completely broke.’

It is understood the Queen ‘would not assist’ with her son paying a settlement to Ms Giuffre because of what this would do to the Crown’s image.

Prince William, the Queen and Prince Charles were thought to have been ‘furious’ with Andrew when they decided he had to be stripped of his titles.

Royal biographer Angela Levin told The Sun: ’Whatever he may or may not have done he certainly was a friend of Epstein and invited him to parties, royal parties when they knew he had been accused of having relationships with underage girls.

‘So there’s no doubt about that. I would imagine that this time the Queen would also listen to her aides.

‘But she also has strong views so if she didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t have done it – she obviously felt they’d crossed a red line.’

However, despite being set adrift, sources have said the Queen would privately meet the cost of her son’s £300,000 annual security if he does end up broke.

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