Queen 'determined' to protect Royal Family amid Andrew scandal

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Prince Andrew has once again been thrown under the spotlight after alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre named the royal as the only claimant in a 15-pages lawsuit lodged with a New York court. Ms Giuffre alleges to have been trafficked to the Duke of York to engage in sexual relations when she was still a minor under US law. Prince Andrew has vehemently denied the claims and previously insisted he was ready to collaborate with US officials.

Speaking to Sky News, commentator John Alridge claimed the Duke of York may soon have to come up with a strategy to ensure the lawsuit it dealt with amid concerns about the reputation of the monarchy.

Mr Alridge claimed: “The damage to the Duke is one thing, the damage to the institution is quite another.

“The Queen, as we’ve seen recently with other members of her family, is absolutely determined that the institution will be protected above everything else.

“The way it’s working out now…the decision is close to being made that the Duke will have to try to close the legal case.

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“He will have to try to find some way to settle it.”

Prince Andrew’s legal woes are the last in a series of blows the Queen has had to contend with over the past couple of years.

The Royal Family lost three working members in quick succession after the Duke of York was forced into temporary retirement because of his ill-advised interview with BBC Newsnight, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to step down from their duties.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex earlier this year took part in a lengthy tell-all interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey in which they discussed their difficult relationship with the institution and Palace aides.

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The first installment of the series is due to come out shortly after the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee marking her 70th year on the throne.

And a royal aide has already claimed Prince Andrew is likely to be excluded from the packed event agenda if “the Epstein scandal is still hanging over him”.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the aide claimed: “He will not be able to take part in Trooping the Colour next year if the Epstein scandal is still hanging over him, and no one can see this going away any time soon.

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“He will have to be replaced. How could he possibly retain his military titles?”

Buckingham Palace previously released a statement to say: “The Duke of York unequivocally regrets his ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Epstein’s suicide left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims.

“The Duke deeply sympathises with those affected who want some form of closure. It is his hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives.

“The Duke is willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.

“The Duke has already stated that he did not see, witness, or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and conviction.

“He deplores the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour.”

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