Prince Andrew has been making secret trips ‘after dark’ to visit the Queen at Windsor Castle, according to reports.  

The disgraced Duke of York is said to have been chauffeured to his mother every night last week to discuss the £12million out-of-court settlement he agreed with accuser Virginia Giuffre to avoid going to trial – and his future.   

Andrew, who turned 62 on Saturday, was determined to keep ‘out of sight’ when he made the short journey from his home in Royal Lodge, Windsor to see the monarch, 95.  

A royal insider told The Sun: ‘He knows there are photographers in the daytime and his best chance to avoid them is after dark.  

‘He knows he is meant to be keeping his head down and it’s a short trip, but he is extremely contrite and apologised to the Queen for all the trouble he has caused her.’  

The Duke of York is also believed to have apologised to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, over the scandal which has left the Royal Family in crisis.  

Ms Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times aged 17 in 1990, claims he categorically denied.  

She is thought to have been silenced over the allegations until after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, it has been claimed. 

However, the Royal Family is said to be bracing itself for a ‘tell all book’ by the end of the year, probably around Christmas – which is set to make the humiliating saga ‘drag on and on’, insiders say.  

Under civil law, agreeing to settle does not amount to an admission of guilt. 

But Prince Andrew has ‘no chance of redemption’ as a royal source close to nephew Prince William said: ‘There is no way in the world he’s ever coming back, the family will never let it happen.’  

Yesterday councillors in York said they were taking steps to remove Andrew’s Freedom of the City honour and call for him to give up his title in the wake of his settlement with Ms Giuffre.  

Now he is facing mounting calls to forfeit his 31-bedroom grace-and-favour home in Windsor – although he could be entitled to a £7.5million taxpayer-funded compensation if he is forced out.  

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