Prince Andrew seen at Buckingham Palace amid royal crisis

Prince Andrew was photographed leaving Buckingham Palace today as courtiers continue their discussions over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new life away from the Royal Family.

The Duke of York did not attend the summit at the Queen’s Sandringham estate yesterday after he was forced to relinquish his royal duties following the scandal over his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein last year.

But Andrew, 59, was seen driving at the palace in London today, while his daughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were seen at Kensington Palace – along with Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Today is the first time Andrew has been seen since he was photographed with his brother Prince Charles arriving to attend a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas Day last month. 

Today is the first time Andrew has been seen since he was photographed with Charles at Sandringham on Christmas Day

Prince Andrew carried out a spectacular self-destruction last November in an interview with BBC Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis

Andrew carried out a spectacular self-destruction last November in an interview with the BBC, which saw several of his business sponsors for his Pitch@Palace initiative announcing they would no longer back the project.

Many of the Duke’s royal patronages also sought to distance themselves from him following the programme on November and he eventually announced he was stepping down from all his patronages and his royal duties.

During the interview on Newsnight, Andrew said he did not recall meeting alleged sex-slave Virginia Roberts – now known as Virginia Giuffre – and emphatically denied that he had sex with her.

The royal denied sweating heavily on the dance floor at Tramp nightclub with her, on the basis he had suffered from a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat.

Andrew also sought to cast doubt on the authenticity of a photograph that showed him with his arm around Miss Roberts’ waist, but conceded that it was difficult to prove if it was a fake.

Andrew’s daughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are seen at Kensington Palace in London today

Eugenie is seen driving at the entrance to Kensington Palace in London today as the Harry and Meghan crisis continues

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is also seen in the back seat of a car at Kensington Palace in London today

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after visiting Canada House in London last Tuesday

Meanwhile today, it emerged that the Duchess of Sussex did not join the royal summit with the Queen and senior royals by phone yesterday and instead relied on her husband to put their case for a new independent life.

This followed speculation over whether Meghan, who is in Canada with baby son Archie, was able to participate in the discussions convened by the Queen at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Meghan is said to be driving their wish to step back as frontline royals, become financially independent and live part of the year in Canada, but it appears she was happy for Harry to conduct the talks with his family.

After the Sandringham summit the Queen issued a statement which sanctioned the couple’s new ‘independent life’ away from full-time royal duties and she said they would begin a transition period living in the UK and Canada.

The move has raised questions over the costs of the couple’s security during their time in North America and who would foot the bill. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the costs would be discussed in future.