Prince Andrew has become ‘isolated’ from the Royal Family, editor claims

Prince Andrew has become ‘isolated’ from his family and is the only member of the Firm ‘clinging’ to the idea he could ever return to public life, a royal editor has claimed. 

But speaking to Lorraine today, royal expert Russell Myers said the Firm are ‘closing ranks’ on Andrew, fearful that he will further damage the firm. 

It was revealed yesterday that William branded has branded Andrew  a ‘threat’ to the future of the monarchy, as senior members of the Royal Family closed the door on the Duke of York – who is being sued in New York by Virginia Giuffre. 

She claims he sexually abused her on three separate occasions when she was 17 — in London, New York and on billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein ‘s Caribbean island. Scotland Yard is also reported to have spoken to the Duke’s accuser, but will take no further action. 

Andrew, 61, who is not facing any criminal charges, ‘categorically’ denies Ms Giuffre’s claims against him and is thought to be keen to make a return as a working royal. 

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Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, he said: ‘I think he is the only person in the entire world at the moment who is clinging to the aspect that he could return.’ 

William, 39, who is second in line to the throne, is said to have been involved in crisis talks with his grandmother and father over the decision to suspend Andrew from public duty. 

It was also reported that Andrew’s siblings – Charles, Anne and Edward – also ruled out his return to public duty at a meeting in January. 

Russell said the Duke of Cambridge, who is becoming a trusted ‘lieutenant’ to both the Queen and the Prince of Wales, in particular is ‘not a fan of his uncle’. 

William, 39, who is second in line to the throne, is said to have been involved in crisis talks with his grandmother and father over the decision to suspend Andrew from public duty

‘Prince William will obviously be taking over one day,’ he said. ‘I think we’ve seen him really come to the fore in his new role of being trusted lieutenant of the Queen and Charles. 

‘Not only does he think he is a threat but what really gets him, the source said, is his sense of entitlement and the way he has handled himself throughout this saga, he is no fan of his uncle Andrew. 

‘That says a lot about the relationship between them and he wants to sort this business before he damages the monarchy even further.’ 

He also speculated that ‘a certain individual’ may have ‘planted many years ago’ the idea that the Duke of York is Her Majesty’s ‘favourite child’.  

Russel said he was ‘staggered’ after Prince Philip’s death in April, when Andrew was ‘front and centre’ of media coverage – with the rest of the Firm angry about his ‘power play’ to salvage his reputation.  

‘It does seem they’re closing ranks together on him and he’s become quite isolated’, he said.   

According to royal expert Russell Myers, the Firm are ‘closing ranks’ on Andrew, fearful that he will further damage the firm and angry at his attempt to use the Duke of Edinburgh’s death to step back into public favour

Russell said the Duke of Cambridge, who is becoming a trusted ‘lieutenant’ to both the Queen and the Prince of Wales, in particular is ‘not a fan of his uncle’

According to The Sunday Times, a royal source said over the weekend: ‘There is no way in the world he’s ever coming back, the family will never let it happen.  

A third source was quoted saying that Prince William is ‘triggered’ by his uncle’s perceived ‘ungracious and ungrateful’ attitude towards his position, which Williams considers ‘a risk’ and a ‘threat to the family.’

‘Any suggestion that there isn’t gratitude for the institution, anything that could lead anyone in the public to think that senior members of the royal family aren’t grateful for their position, [William thinks] is really dangerous,’ the Sunday Times quoted the source as saying.   

MailOnline was told that Buckingham Palace was not commenting on the matter.  

It comes after it was revealed that Andrew’s legal team will be allowed to review a previously secret settlement which his lawyers hope will shield him from the sex abuse lawsuit in the US.

A US District Judge granted permission for the Duke of York’s lawyers to receive a copy of a confidential agreement between the late financier Epstein and Ms Giuffre on Wednesday. 

Ms Giuffre, who has also accused Epstein of abuse, signed a settlement deal with the financier in 2009 as part of a Florida state case – to which the duke was not a party.

The deal between her and Esptein, who died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, has remained confidential.

Epstein’s estate had agreed to let Prince Andrew’s legal team review the legal document, but court approval was needed. 

At a hearing in Manhatten yesterday, District Judge Loretta Preska granted the approval. 

At a hearing last month, Andrew Brettler, a lawyer for the prince, told the judge overseeing Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit that he believed the agreement ‘absolves our client from any and all liability.’ 

During the first pre-trial hearing of the case last month, he said: ‘There has been a settlement agreement that the plaintiff has entered into in a prior action that releases the duke and others from any and all potential liability.’ 

However, David Boies, one of the lawyers representing Ms Giuffre, said in a court filing last month that he believed the settlement was ‘irrelevant’ to her case against the prince.

He said: ‘Although we believe that the release is irrelevant to the case against Prince Andrew, now that service has been accepted and the case is proceeding to a determination on the merits, we believe that counsel for Prince Andrew have a right to review the release and to make whatever arguments they believe appropriate based on it.’ 

Mr Brettler said in an email he expects to receive the agreement soon from Ms Giuffre’s lawyers. 

Ms Giuffre is accusing the prince of having sex with her knowing she had been trafficked by Epstein and she was underage.

She alleged this took place at the London home of Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

She also said the prince abused her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, and on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

She claims she was trafficked by Epstein, the duke’s former friend, to have sex with Andrew when she was aged 17 and a minor under US law. 

She is seeking unspecified damages, but there is speculation the sum could be in the millions of dollars. Andrew faces an October 29 deadline to formally respond to Giuffre’s lawsuit.

Epstein, a registered sex offender, killed himself at age 66 in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to helping recruit and groom underage girls for Epstein to abuse. Her trial in Manhattan is scheduled for November 29. 

The news comes as it was claimed the Queen is spending millions of pounds funding Andrew’s fight against the sex abuse allegations.

Royal courtiers are said to expect the final legal bill to run into millions as the civil case against Andrew lingers for months or even years.

And a potential settlement or damages payout would cost millions more on top of the overall bill.