Prince Philip’s last task: How Prince Andrew was ordered to step away from royal duties by 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh after disastrous Newsnight interview… as grilling is dramatised in A Very Royal Scandal
When Prince Andrew became embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the royal family had to respond quickly.
Prince Philip, who was 98 at the time, had retired from royal duties but was still head of the family.
Royal expert Tina Brown wrote in her 2022 book The Palace Papers that he advised his son on how to handle the situation. It was “a final family intervention that he wanted to carry out himself”.
Andrew had been summoned to Sandringham to meet his father and explain his side of the story following his disastrous interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis on Newsnight.
The meeting resulted in the late Duke of Edinburgh asking his son to ‘step down’ from his royal duties.
Andrews’ encounter with Newsnight has been dramatised in the new Amazon Prime series A Very Royal Scandal, starring Michael Sheen as the Prince and Ruth Wilson as Mrs Maitlis. The series was released last Thursday.
Prince Andrew and his father Prince Philip watch the horse races at Epsom Downs, Surrey, in 2016
King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew attended the Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor last year
Andrew, the Queen and Prince Philip attend the Derby in 2013
A royal insider previously told the Daily Telegraph: ‘There was no shouting or screaming. Philip told him in no uncertain terms that he had to step down for the sake of the monarchy.
‘Philip doesn’t like being put on trial by the media, but he is realistic enough to realise that Andrew’s actions posed a danger to the core of the royal family.’
They described the conversation as “tense” and said Philip told Andrew “he had to take his punishment”.
King Charles, then Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, used the situation to demonstrate his power within the family.
He made more and more public appearances, while the Queen gradually reduced her appearances.
Charles is said to have lectured his younger brother when he summoned him to a meeting at the royal estate after returning from a trip to New Zealand.
He told Andrew that there was “no way back to the family in the near future” and reiterated Philip’s request for him to step down from public duties.
A source previously told The Sun: ‘It was all very civilised and calm, but Charles calmly lectured him and told him there was no going back for the foreseeable future.
Prince Andrew with BBC journalist Emily Maitlis at Buckingham Palace on the day she interviewed him for Newnight in 2019
Ms Maitlis questioned Andrew about his ties to Epstein, and the prince denied allegations against himself by sex offender Virginia Giuffre
Charles told Andrew that there was ‘no way back to the family in the foreseeable future’ and reiterated Philip’s request for him to step down from public duties.
Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein pictured at Royal Ascot in 2000
Andrew attends Royal Ascot with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (green dress) in June 2000
‘Andrew felt he was being treated harshly because nothing had been proven against him, but he accepted the decision. He didn’t really have much of a choice.’
This came after Andrew faced public outrage following his interview with Ms Maitlis the previous month.
The journalist questioned Andrew about his ties to Epstein, and the prince repeatedly denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations.
He claimed he could not have had sex with Ms Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein to sleep with the Duke in 2001, when he was out with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, for a birthday party at Pizza Express in Woking.
Ms Maitlis recently told the Radio Times: ‘A month after the interview was broadcast, I was taken aside by someone close to Prince Charles and told – somewhat cryptically – that “HRH was not unhappy with the interview”.’
Andrew continued to steadfastly deny that he had ever met Mrs. Giuffre.
In March 2022, he paid a multimillion-pound settlement to his accuser, formally ending the civil sexual abuse lawsuit she had brought against him in the US.
Forced into retirement, he lost his £249,000 income from the Sovereign Grant, but was able to retain his palatial home, the 30-room Royal Lodge at Windsor.
Although he has a 75-year lease on the property, he is under increasing pressure from Charles to vacate the £30million mansion.
The king has funded private security for the residence since Andrews’ police protection was lifted in 2022 amid the Epstein scandal.
But last month it emerged that the 10-strong team of guards had been told they would no longer be needed from the autumn, reportedly on the king’s orders.
Andrew and his daughter, Princess Beatrice, at the Queen’s funeral in 2022
Andrew and the late Duke of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2015
Charles is said to be at his wits’ end and has made it clear that there are now only ‘two possible options’ for Andrew, This was reported by The Times.
First, the Duke must find a way to become financially independent by paying his own expenses, which will cover his security and the upkeep of his home.
Secondly, according to sources close to the king, Andrew must move to “more suitable accommodation”.
Charles has encouraged Andrew to move to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex before they moved to California.
The cottage is within the existing security perimeter of the royal Windsor Estate and was renovated by Harry and Meghan in 2019.