Revealed: Prince Andrew tells friends the mysterious ‘development’ will restore his reputation within the next month – and that the Queen had told him his exile from royal duties was only ‘temporary’
- Duke of York claims the revelations will change public perceptions of him
- Prince Andrew told friends the developments could restore his reputation in months
- He could make a bid to overturn a settlement reached with a sex abuse accuser
Prince Andrew has claimed to friends that a “mysterious development” will restore his disgraced reputation in the coming months.
Regularly voted the most disliked member of the royal family, the Duke of York was stripped of his public duties following revelations about his relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but his confidence remains undiminished.
I can reveal that the king’s brother has assured friends that a development is coming that will restore his reputation.
If not quite the heroic status he enjoyed as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, at least what he was before he was photographed talking to Epstein in New York’s Central Park shortly after his release from prison in 2009 a bewilderingly short sentence for sex crimes.
Prince Andrew, seen in the grounds of Windsor Castle in his Range Rover, reportedly believes his reputation could be restored
The Duke of York consults with lawyers to get Virginia Giuffre, officially known as Virginia Roberts. withdraw their allegations against him
When shooting, the Duke of York speaks most freely. “He says details will be released that will change people’s perception of him,” I’m told. “He says it will happen next month.”
Although Andrew, 62, did not elaborate further, the Mail on Sunday reported over the weekend that he would launch a dramatic bid to overturn the multi-million dollar settlement he reached with the woman who accused him of sexual assault.
It is understood that Andrew consulted lawyers to get Virginia Giuffre, officially known as Virginia Roberts. withdraw their allegations and possibly secure an apology.
He was inspired to act after Ms Giuffre dropped her lawsuit against another man whom she accused of sexual assault and admitted she “may have made a mistake” in identifying it.
But Ms Giuffre has always maintained her case against the Duke was valid.
Andrew’s relationship with Epstein was revisited in a bombshell interview with Ghislaine Maxwell on TalkTV.
Maxwell said from prison Prince Andrew was a “dear friend” and said the allegations against him were unfounded.
In her first TV interview since she was jailed for child trafficking, the British socialite also claimed the infamous photo of her, Andrew and Giuffre was a “fake”.
Undated handout photo issued by the US Department of Justice (left-right) of the Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell
Prince Andrew, Duke of York is seen riding at Windsor Castle
The late Queen Elizabeth’s son has endured a series of humiliations since his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019 as institutions cut ties with him.
The most devastating blow, I am told, was the abrupt cessation of his role as Colonel in the Grenadier Guards, which the Chron reported just before Christmas.
He had already retired from his service with the Grenadiers, but confident that he would return to them in time.
‘He says, Your Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] gave him her word that the resignation was only a temporary measure. He says he was not told in advance that he would be kicked out, nor that Camilla would replace him. He says he just heard about it “in the media.”
So maybe it’s time for Andrew to throw a media surprise himself?