Prince Andrew: ‘Hard to see route to public role’ says Witchell

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Prince Andrew, 61, took over the role as Colonel of the Regiment in 2017 from Prince Philip who had held the appointment since 1975. But the Duke of York, who stepped down from royal duties in November 2019 “for the foreseeable future”, has denied Ms Giuffre’s accusations that he forced her to have sex more than two decades ago at the London home of former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and abused her at two other Epstein properties. But royal journalist Nicholas Witchell has since claimed Andrew is “not wanted” by the Grenadier Guards.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Witchell said: “He clings on to his Colonelship of the Grenadier Guards.

“What is the first event of the Platinum Jubilee weekend? It’s trooping the colour.

“He would be expected to ride as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards at Trooping the Colour.

“I’ll tell you this, the Grenadier Guards don’t want him.

“That’s absolutely certain. They haven’t said it publicly but behind the scenes, they are acutely embarrassed to have Prince Andrew as their Colonel.”

It comes as Judge Lewis A Kaplan’s decision is a huge blow for Andrew, whose lawyer argued earlier this month the case should be thrown out as Ms Giuffre had waived her right to pursue the duke by signing a confidential settlement with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The Queen’s second son could pursue an out-of-court, and potentially multimillion-pound, settlement, but there have been suggestions Ms Giuffre may not be prepared to accept a deal.

Media lawyer Mark Stephens said: “Andrew has got no good options now. He can’t make things better.”

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He told the BBC: “Essentially, I think he’s either going to have to engage in the trial process or he’s going to have to settle and that may well be his least worst option.”

Andrew could ignore the case, meaning by default there would be a finding against him, or he could fight it out, meaning he would have to give a deposition under oath and the sexual assault allegations would be explored in open court.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying: “We would not comment on what is an ongoing legal matter.”

The development comes just two days after the Palace unveiled the full programme of events for the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.

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2022 is meant to be a period of celebration for the royal family, but the monarch and senior royals face the prospect of the duke’s accuser giving a detailed account of her allegations in court this autumn.

The institution of the monarchy is likely to be damaged by Ms Giuffre’s case, which will be heard in New York and make headlines across the globe.

But the reputational damage in the public’s eyes of a member of the royal family financially settling such a lawsuit could also be monumental.

Andrew’s reputation has already been irreparably tarnished by his friendship with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and he withdrew from public duties soon after his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview failed to draw a line under his relationship with the disgraced financier.

Express.co.uk have contacted the Grenadier Guards for comment.

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