Prince Andrew’s ex-girlfriend has shared a one-word response after Virginia Giuffre revealed she has just ‘days to live’.

Lady Victoria Hervey, a socialite-turned-reality show performer, dated the Duke of York briefly in 1999.

Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, sued the prince in 2022, alleging that he raped and sexually abused her as a teen.

Andrew has denied Giuffre’s accusations and said he has ‘no recollection’ of meeting her. They reached an out-of-court settlement in 2022.

Giuffre revealed on Instagram yesterday that she has just ‘four days to live’ after a car crash involving a school bus.

Sharing a photograph of herself covered in bruises from the hospital, Giuffre said she was suffering kidney failure.

‘I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes,’ she said.

As Giuffre fights for her life, Hervey shared the photo of the injured campaigner on Instagram and claimed ‘karma’ had reached her.

The aristocrat said this in Instagram Story with the backing music of The Final Countdown by Europe.

Without evidence, she added: ‘If Virginia Giuffre really does have days to live then a complete confession is needed.

‘I don’t believe it though, the FBI are on her right now and arrest warrants are incoming: She’s conveniently dying to evade jail.”

She then posted three consecutive screenshots of a Google search generated by artificial intelligence (AI) about kidney failure.

‘More attention-seeking BS from the biggest scam artist,’ Hervey added.

Virginia, who campaigns on behalf of victims of sex trafficking, said she has been transferred to a specialist hospital.

‘Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital,’ her spokesperson said.

‘She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending.’

Giuffre said that Epstein, a billionaire financier, and Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to rich and powerful men. She was recruited to provide massages for Epstein and was later required to be on call for him for sexual purposes.

Epstein was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges when he hanged himself in August 2019 in his New York prison cell.

Maxwell, a former socialite, is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking and grooming girls for him.

After the lawsuit was filed by Guiffre, Andrew was forced to relinquish his military titles and lost his use of the title, ‘His Royal Highness’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Virginia Giuffre has gone from living a quiet life in her mansion along the Australian coast to what could be her deathbed.

Giuffre, 41, drew worldwide attention after claiming she was trafficked for sex to the Duke of York by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as a teen.

The mother-of-three has now shared a post on social media saying she has just days to live after being hit by a school bus.

Before her accident, Ms Giuffre led a quiet life as one of 8,600 residents of the laid-back Ocean Reef community in North Perth.

Little did her neighbours know that she was set to receive an eye-watering sum of money in an out-of-court settlement with Prince Andrew over the accusations.

What happened in Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit against Prince Andrew?

Ms Giuffre sued the Duke of York in 2021, accusing the estranged royal of sexually assaulting her on three occasions when she was 17.

Andrew has repeatedly denied the claims, but in 2022 agreed to pay her an undisclosed sum in an out-of-court settlement.

The settlement included a ‘substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights’.

At the time, Andrew released a statement praising the ‘bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others’.

He also vowed to ‘demonstrate his regret for his association’ with Epstein by supporting the ‘fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims’.

What has Ms Giuffre been doing since the lawsuit?

Ms Giuffre effectively held the future of the Duke’s reputation at her fingertips, having regular phone and Zoom meetings with his team as the sounds of the ocean waves lapped behind her.

Her last known address was a £1,000,000 seaside property in Ocean Reef, where she lived with her husband, Robert Giuffre, and their three teenage children.

The couple have been married for 22 years, but are reportedly estranged.

Laying low in her six-bedroom home, 12 miles up the coast north of Perth, Ms Giuffre says she walks her dog, Juno, each day to unwind.

The simple act is one of her many coping methods to try to recover from the memories of her two years as a sex trafficking victim of Epstein, she said.

In a statement read at Maxwell’s trial in 2022, Ms Giuffre said she is haunted by nightmares about her past. Nightmares, she added, she fears will never stop happening.

‘In those dreams, I relive the awful things you and others did to me and the things you forced me to do,’ she said, addressing Maxwell.

Beyond dog-walking, Ms Guiffre spends her days rolling out her yoga mat to stretch, attending regular therapy sessions and taking trips into town to shop and get a haircut.

‘I’m doing as many things to clear my mind as possible so that I can be sharp and focused when it matters,’ she told The Cut in 2021.

Peace of mind is key for the campaigner, with her home also sporting a space, walk-in wardrobe, a balcony overlooking the sea and an entertainment room.

It’s a mansion a world away from her childhood, which saw her suffer homelessness after running home from the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a family friend, she told Panorama in 2019.

The mansion, lined by 10-foot-high security gates, is believed to have been funded by previous large out-of-court settlements related to Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Ms Guiffre also takes her three children – two sons in their mid to late teens, and a daughter aged 14 – to and from school as well as their after-school clubs and sporting events.

But life with Ms Guiffre as a mother can be a strange one.

‘They have friends that say, “Oh my god, is this your mum?'” Giuffre said.

‘It’s a lot for them to carry. But they’re teenagers. They’re at that prime era in life where I think it’s important to teach them about sex trafficking.’

She also runs the charity Speak Out, Act, Reclaim, or Soar.

Soar is ‘dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other’, according to its website.

‘I do this for victims everywhere,’ Ms Giuffe has said about her charity work.

‘I am no longer the young and vulnerable girl who could be bullied. I am now a survivor, and nobody can ever take that away from me.’

Has Ms Giuffre written a memoir?

One year after settling her lawsuit with Andrew, Ms Giuffre signed a multi-million dollar deal to write her memoir in 2023, in which she was expected an insight into the years of sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Epstein.

The book, said to be 12 years in the making, would also detail her meetings with Andrew.

The memoir has not yet been published and, with Ms Giuffre’s life on the line, fears have been raised that the full details of her encounter with the Duke will never come to light.

Posting on Instagram from what could be her deathbed, she said: ‘This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won’t bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can.

‘I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology.

‘I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. S**T in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it’s still going to be s**t at the end of the day.

‘Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life. Godbless you all xx Virginia’.

Her father, Sky Roberts, commented on the post, saying: ‘Virginia, my daughter, I love you and praying for you to get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life.

‘If there is anything in this world I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit with you now and holding your hand.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew’s sex assault accuser made a mistake when she said she had been involved in a car crash and had ‘four days to live’.

Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked as a teen by his billionaire paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein, posted a photo on Instagram from a hospital bed, showing an array of bruises.

Bidding farewell to her loved ones, mum-of-three Ms Guiffre wrote a public Instagram post saying her car collided with a school bus, leaving her seriously injured.

But her family has now said she did not intend to share the post publicly, thanking people for the ‘outpouring of love and support’ she has received in the meantime.

‘I’ve gone into kidney renal failure, they’ve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. I’m ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. S**T in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it’s still going to be s**t at the end of the day,’ she wrote.

‘Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life. God bless you all xx Virginia’.

In a statement released to the Mirror, Ms Guiffre’s family said: ‘Virginia thanks everyone for the outpouring of love and support. She is overwhelmed with gratitude.

‘Today she remains in serious condition while receiving medical care.

‘On March 24, in rural Western Australia, a school bus hit the car in which she was riding.

‘The police were called but said that there was no one available to come to the scene. They asked if anyone was injured and suggested that if they were, they should make their way to the hospital.

‘The school bus driver had a bus full of distraught children and left the scene to get them back, saying he would file a police report, which he did later.

‘Virginia was banged up and bruised and returned home. Virginia’s condition worsened and she was admitted to the hospital.

‘Concerning her Instagram post, Virginia thought that she had posted on her private Facebook page.

‘Virginia and her family thank everyone for their concern.’

Ms Giuffre has been living near Perth in Western Australia, and Western Australia Police said they received a report of a ‘minor crash’ between a school bus and a car in Neergabby, about 12 miles north of Perth, on March 24.

‘The collision was reported by the bus driver the following day,’ a police spokeswoman said. ‘There were no reported injuries as a result of the crash.’

Professor Simon Davies, a Trustee of Kidney Research UK and former Emeritus Professor of Nephrology and Dialysis Medicine at Keele University told Metro: ‘You can get a kidney injury after an accident such as a car crash, but it would be a very severe injury.

‘You’re talking about major trauma which involves a lot of tissue damage. You definitely can have a kidney injury from a car wreck but it would likely be a serious injury – likely in intensive care.

‘And you would not be in a strong position to be having conversations at that point.

‘If someone’s kidneys stop working as a result of severe injuries or trauma then it is right to say that without further proper treatment – dialysis or some sort of supportive therapy – then you could die without that treatment in a matter of days,’ he added.

‘In the context of injury in a car accident or something similar, if somebody says to you you’re not going to live for a few days, then you’ve got a really serious injury 

‘Probably multiple organ failure, where you might need ventilating and kidney support.’

Police would not confirm if Ms Giuffre was the driver.

St John Ambulance Western Australia told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) they were not called to any crash involving a bus there on March 24.

A Western Australia Public Transport Authority spokesperson also told the broadcaster they were unaware of any such bus crashes.

Lawyer Brad Edwards, who represented Ms Giuffre in her previous legal cases, said the situation was ‘very bad’. He told MailOnline they were ‘hoping for better news in the coming days’.

Ms Giuffre’s dad, Sky Roberts, posted a message of support for his daughter, seemingly unaware of the crash beforehand.

He wrote: ‘Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying you get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life. If there is anything in the world I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand.’

Ms Guiffre is thought to be estranged from her husband and did not share further details of the reported crash or where it occurred.

A spokesperson for the East Metropolitan Health Service, which runs Royal Perth Hospital, similarly said Ms Giuffre was not at any of their facilities.

Billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself in custody in August 2019 while awaiting his trial for sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. A watchdog report last year blamed prison guard negligence,short staffing, misconduct and performance failures for allowing it to happen.

There was no evidence of foul play in his death, said Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

His close friend Ghislaine Maxwell, a former socialite, is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking and grooming girls for him.

In January, the last batch of Epstein court papers to be released showed Ms Giuffre, 41, claimed she was paid $15,000 (£12,000) to have sex with Prince Andrew.

As part of a civil lawsuit against Epstein’s former lover Ghislaine Maxwell, she told a judge of her alleged abuse by the Duke of York in 2016.

Asked under oath in 2016 over whether she was paid ‘by or on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein’ for the encounter, which Andrew denies took place, she said: ‘Yes, I did receive $15,000.

‘I don’t know what equivalent that is to pounds. I received it in American dollars.’

Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre, née Roberts, to avoid going to trial in 2022.

He had faced a public hearing over allegations he sexually abused the American woman three times when she was just 17, and while she was the victim of a trafficking ring orchestrated by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. 

The Duke has always strenuously denied the accusations.

Under civil law, agreeing to settle a case does not amount to an admission of guilt.

The news today comes after King Charles gave an update on his health, saying he had been in hospital due to side effects from his cancer treatment.

The monarch ‘required a short period of observation’ before returning to Clarence House, Buckingham Palace said last week.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew has definitely caused quite the stir in recent years, so much so that a school named after him will be rebranded.

Students at Prince Andrew School – the only secondary school on the remote British overseas territory of St Helena – have been asked to come up with something more ‘neutral’.

The government of St Helena said the name change has even got the backing of Buckingham Palace.

The decision to rename stems from ‘recent public controversy’ and ‘negative media coverage’, the government on the island said.

Head teacher Phil Toal said: ‘While we respect history, we must also be mindful of how past associations impact the present and future.

‘Choosing a new name allows us to honour the contributions of our students and community without the burden of controversial ties.’

The new name is expected to be unveiled as early as this month as the school waves goodbye to its association with the Duke.

‘The school believes this change is a crucial step in ensuring its name embodies the values, aspirations, and identity of its students and the wider community,’ the statement said.

‘The decision to rename the school stems from several factors, including recent public controversy and negative media coverage.

‘The school believes a neutral name will foster a positive and forward-thinking learning environment, free from contentious associations.’

Prince Andrew is currently under fire after Donald Trump’s new FBI chief vowed to ‘do everything‘ to expose Jeffrey Epstein’s associates.

Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement and paid millions to Virginia Giuffre in 2022 to avoid going to trial.

This was over allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre three times when she was just 17, and while she was the victim of a trafficking ring orchestrated by Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew has always denied the allegations.

King Charles reportedly cut off Andrew’s ‘£1million allowance’ in the fallout after the Duke settled out of court with Ms Giuffre.

More recently, Andrew has faced further scrutiny over links to an alleged Chinese spy.

The alleged spy was apparently invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 – but he’s now been banned from the UK by MI5 on ‘security grounds’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew is under fire after Donald Trump’s new FBI chief vowed to ‘do everything‘ to expose Jeffrey Epstein’s associates.

New FBI head, Kash Patel, told a Senate hearing he is ready to investigate those linked to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

He said: ‘Child sex trafficking has no place in the US. I will do everything to make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened.’

A source said: ‘The FBI should reopen its investigation. Andrew has to face justice.’

They told The Sun: ‘He was friends with Epstein for years and has never answered for it. Kash Patel should release all the FBI’s files immediately.’

The news comes after emails emerged purporting to show Andrew told Epstein they would ‘play some more soon!’ two months after he claimed he cut contact with him.

The emails were disclosed in a filing by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are defending an appeal by former Barclays boss, Jes Staley.

Staley is challenging a decision for misleading regulators on his ties to Epstein, one of the most severe measures the FCA can impose.

Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement and paid millions to Virginia Giuffre in 2022 to avoid going to trial.

This was over allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre three times when she was just 17, and while she was the victim of a trafficking ring orchestrated by Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew has always denied the allegations.

King Charles reportedly cut off Andrew’s ‘£1million allowance’ in the fallout after the Duke settled out of court with Ms Giuffre.

In Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, he said he ceased all contact with Epstein in December 2010 after they were pictured walking in New York together.

Andrew twice stated his friendship with Epstein had some ‘seriously beneficial outcomes’ and it gave him the opportunity to meet people and help prepare for a future role as a trade envoy. 

While he denied sleeping with Mrs Giuffre on three separate occasions, he claimed one encounter in 2001 could not have happened as he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking for a party. 

More recently, Andrew has faced further scrutiny over links to an alleged Chinese spy.

The alleged spy was apparently invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 – but he’s now been banned from the UK by MI5 on ‘security grounds’.

Andrew, a former UK trade envoy, has worked closely with influential business figures in the past, but it came to light that this 50-year-old Chinese businessman was also a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

He was reportedly working for its United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence. 

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The Royal Family, led by King Charles and Queen Camilla, arrived at the Sandringham Christmas church service – but there was no sign of Prince Andrew.

Senior royals arrived for the traditional family event at the Norfolk estate where Queen Elizabeth hosted 32 Christmasses before her death.

Crowds had gathered to welcome Charles, Camilla, Prince William and the Princess of Wales outside the St Magdalene Church in Sandringham, with some mega fans queueing in camping chairs overnight to get a glimpse of their favourite royals.

Beaming Kate hugged cancer patient Karen MacLean as the Princess spent a while greeting the fans along the church path on their way out.

Ms MacLean, 73, from Cleerthorpes, said the pair talked about the illness when ‘she reached out and hugged me.’

She told the Sun: ‘It was really unexpected and such a joy… I gave her a tight squeeze back.

‘It was such a surreal moment. I wasn’t expecting that at all. It was so overwhelmingly good.’

A woman who had worked for Macmillan Cancer Support told her Kate is ‘an inspiration to all the patients,’ MailOnline reports.

Kate responded: ‘The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families.

‘People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.’

Prince William and Kate were accompanied by their children, while dozens of other family members are said to be spending Christmas Day at Sandringham.

Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike were also seen walking to the church along with Edward, the Prince of Edinburgh, and the Princess of Edinburgh who was dressed in an eye-catching bright blue coat.

Charles was dressed in a camel coat and grey trousers, while Queen Camilla sported a dark green hat and coat.

The Princess of Wales also wore a green coat and matching hat paired with a tartan scarf, black heels and a handbag. Read more about her outfit choice and its meaning here.

After the church, the royal family will return to the Sandringham manor for a Christmas lunch, followed by parlour games such as charades and bingo later on.

But Prince Andrew, who has been linked to the alleged ‘Chinese spy’ scandal, did not walk along with the rest of his family.

He was spotted on Sunday driving to go for a solo walk at Windsor Castle instead while his older brother Charles was seen at St Mary Magdalene Church service ahead of the big day.

Prince Andrew reportedly confirmed on Monday he had pulled out of the official festive celebrations and the Christmas Day church walk, and he is thought to be spending the festivities with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, MailOnline reports.

He had also cancelled his appearance at the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

On Sunday, Charles appeared in good spirits as the greeted the members of the clergy in the churchyard.

It comes as the 76-year-old monarch is thought to be continuing his cancer treatment in the New Year.

When asked how he is doing at a community event in east London last week, he quipped: ‘I’m still alive.’

Palace sources told Sky News last week that his cancer treatment is ‘moving in a positive direction.’

It has been a difficult year for the royal family. Queen Camilla said it has been ‘a hell of a two years for them.’

His cancer diagnosis was announced in February as the palace said he was starting a course of treatment.

Kate Middleton hosted her fourth Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey earlier this month which was officially aired on ITV yesterday.

Royal fans queue for hours outside church

The first fans arrived outside the Sandringham church yesterday and spent the night outside to get the best spot for royal watching.

One of them was John Loughrey, a retired chef from Wandsworth, south London, said he and Sky London had arrived with ‘sleeping bags with us and a heat pad’ the night before.

The 69-year-old royalist said: ‘It was a bit damp last night.

‘We came here for Catherine. She’s been an inspiration the last year what she’s been through.

‘We want to support her and her family.’

Earlier details of the closely guarded event revealed a heartwarming moment between Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte as they lit their commemorative candles.

It marked a major return to royal duties for the Princess of Wales after she completed chemotherapy following her diagnosis shortly after Charles’s health announcement.

Queen Camilla has been recovering after being ill with pneumonia last month. She attended the 50th anniversary of Women’s Aid in early December where she expressed her determination to continue her campaigning against domestic violence.

As for the royal Christmas dishes this year, Charles has brought turkey back on the menu after briefly introducing a vegan Christmas lunch at his private Highgrove residence.

He has also stripped Cadbury chocolate of its Royal Warrant – along with several other famous brands such as Unilever and Champagne Lanson – suggesting that the King might continue on the health path he is on which includes daily exercise and two days without meat each week.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, are reportedly spending Christmas in their California home with the two children Archie and Lilibet.

The pair revealed their festive greetings card last week showing a rare glimpse of their children and the highlights of their year.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A box of books belonging to a man alleged to be a Chinese Spy were found dumped on the lawn outside his house this morning.

It was revealed at theHigh Court earlier this week that the alleged Chinese spy who has been banned from the UK was called Yang Tengbo, but also goes by Chris Yang.

Mr Yang is said to have links to Prince Andrew and was banned from the UK by MI5 last week due to the potential security threat.

The new owner of the house at the centre of the allegations said he found a stash of Pitch @ Palace promotional material left behind.

The books were part of Prince Andrew’s scheme to promote UK entrepreneurs internationally.

He told the Metro: ‘I can dine out on this story hopefully. There was nothing left behind apart from the books.

‘I bought the place through on agent and met a couple of Chinese people but there was nothing unusual.’

He said he had been told the company Hampton Group – which was run by Chinese business people – used the property to accommodate staff who were working in the central London office of the group.

The new owner of the house at the centre of the allegations said he found a stash of Pitch @ Palace promotional material left behind.

The books were part of Prince Andrew’s scheme to promote UK entrepreneurs internationally.

The house was sold to the new owner for just under £1m with the deal going through just before the spying allegations emerged.

He told the Metro: ‘I can dine out on this story hopefully. There was nothing left behind apart from the books.

‘I bought the place through an agent and met a couple of Chinese people but there was nothing unusual.’

He said he had been told the company Hampton Group – which was run by Chinese business people – to accommodate staff who were working in the central London office of the group.

In a statemen yesterday, Yang, 50, said he has ‘done nothing wrong or unlawful’, adding that the ‘widespread description of me as a “spy” is entirely untrue’.

He had been under an anonymity order known only as ‘H6’ until he revealed his name publicly to deny the allegations against him.

Mr Yang was living in a converted library in west London, and a neighbour told Metro how ‘flash cars’ and ‘perfectly turned out’ Chinese office staff were the talk of the quiet suburban street in Hampton.

His former home is one of the biggest on the street where he was alleged to be running an espionage ring.

One neighbour, 51, told Metro: ‘There were lots of flash cars pulling up and perfectly turned out office staff in and out. The women working in there were immaculate.

‘We did think it was strange that they were apparently running a business from there. All the neighbours were a bit perplexed and were talking about it. 

‘This is a street where you could genuinely say before this ‘nothing ever happens’.

‘We are totally shocked to be centre stage in a suspected spy story, very James Bond. It’s exciting really, my sister rang me when she saw it on the news, we are really on the map now.’

Another neighbour told Metro: ‘When the Chinese moved in it was a bit odd as we thought it was going to be a family moving in.

‘We were a bit taken aback when all the office furniture started to arrive. Having said that there was nothing to raise alarm bells there.

‘They went about their business and didn’t interact with the local community. Now we may know why I suppose.’

In a statement, 50-year-old Yang said he has ‘done nothing wrong or unlawful’, adding that the ‘widespread description of me as a “spy” is entirely untrue’.

Yang’s lawyer Guy Vassall-Adams KC told the High Court: ‘There has been an enormous amount of media reporting in relation to this story, and particularly in relation to the relationship between my client, H6, and Prince Andrew, as well as a huge amount of speculation about the identity of my client.’

In a letter found by investigators, an advisor to the Duke of York told him: ‘You sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.’

It added: ‘I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family.

‘You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship.’

China today claims that Mr Yang had used his links with Britain’s Prince Andrew to spy for Beijing were ‘preposterous’, after the UK government voiced mounting concerns over the allegations.

Asked about the case while on a visit to Norway, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was ‘concerned about the challenge that China poses’ but defended his approach of ‘engagement’ with Beijing.

A spokesman for Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the ‘accusations of so-called Chinese espionage are preposterous’.

‘The development of China-UK relations is in the common interests of both countries and is also conducive to promoting world economic growth and responding to global challenges,’ Lin Jian said.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson won’t be joining the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas dinner, it is understood.

The Duke of York has faced further scrutiny after his links to an alleged Chinese spy were published for the first time.

The alleged spy, Yang Tengbo, was banned from the UK by MI5 last week due to the potential security threat. He had been under an anonymity order known only as ‘H6’ until he revealed his name publicly to deny the allegations against him.

Prince Andrew has now reportedly declined to spend Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family this year – but a spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace declined to comment to Metro.

On Friday, the Duke said he had ‘ceased all contact’ with Tengbo following ‘advice’ from officials, and said he had never discussed anything of a ‘sensitive nature’ with him.

Yang, who penetrated the upper echelons of British society and had been invited to Buckingham Palace by Prince Andrew, has said he ‘would never do anything to harm the interests of the UK’ after his identity was revealed.

In a statement, 50-year-old Yang said he has ‘done nothing wrong or unlawful’, adding that the ‘widespread description of me as a “spy” is entirely untrue’.

In 2023, Yang – who also is known as Tengbo Yang and Chris Yang – was banned from the UK by then-home secretary Suella Braverman after MI5 became concerned about information found on his phone.

According to the Sunday Times, the figures he met include David Cameron at a Downing Street reception and Theresa May at a black-tie event over the last 15 years.

He was also invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020.

Officials told the home secretary in a briefing that Yang was able to generate relationships between top figures in UK and China ‘that could be leveraged for political interference purposes’.

Yang’s lawyer Guy Vassall-Adams KC told the High Court: ‘There has been an enormous amount of media reporting in relation to this story, and particularly in relation to the relationship between my client, H6, and Prince Andrew, as well as a huge amount of speculation about the identity of my client.’

In a letter found by investigators, an advisor to the Duke of York told him: ‘You sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.’

It added: ‘I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family.

‘You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship.’

A statement released by the Duke’s office on Friday said: ‘The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.

‘The duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.

‘He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.’

Several British politicians, including Reform leader Nigel Farage and Labour MP Graham Stringer, had called for Yang’s anonymity to be lifted.

Following the exposure of his identity, Farage tweeted: ‘I am pleased that pressure by Reform over the last 48 hours has now led to this man being named. The public deserve to know.’

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the alleged spy was ‘the tip of the iceberg’.

He added: ‘Beijing’s United Front Work Department, tasked with establishing ties with influential people in other countries, has about 40,000 operatives globally potentially attempting to influence journalism, academics, politics, and the whole lot.’

Former security minister Tom Tugendhat told BBC Breakfast: ‘So, the story, I can understand why it’s been about Prince Andrew, but it’s not really about Prince Andrew.

‘It’s about the way the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to exert influence here in the United Kingdom.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Nigel Farage has threatened to reveal the name of an alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew.

The leader of Reform UK said he was prepared to use the parliamentary privilege and name the suspected spy in the House of Commons who is said to have formed an ‘unusual degree of trust’ with the Duke of York.

The suspected spy is a businessman who is thought to have acted on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party as he got close to politicians and figures such as Prince Andrew.

It comes after the alleged spy – only known as H6 – was given anonymity in the courts which generally bans him from being named.

But Farage has said the man should be ‘named immediately’ after it emerged the alleged spy is thought to have targeted senior political figures.

He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘The man should be named immediately, otherwise the whole thing smacks of an establishment cover-up.

‘If it’s not resolved in the courts, he should be named in the Commons. It’s clearly in the national interest.’

The figures H6 met include David Cameron at a Downing Street reception and Theresa May at a black-tie event over the last 15 years, according to the Sunday Times.

A July tribunal hearing relating to the matter was told that an adviser to Prince Andrew had said he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China and that H6 had been invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020.

What happened to the ‘Chinese spy’?

The suspected spy has been banned from entering the UK since 2023.

When he was stopped at a port in November 2021, a letter referencing the event from Prince Andrew’s aide, Dominic Hampshire, was found on H6’s device.

It said: ‘I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family.

‘You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship… Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.’

The businessman is said to have kept pictures of his separate encounters with both Cameron and May in his office. However, it is not clear whether the meetings took place when either was in office, according to the Independent.

He used so-called ‘elite capture’ tactics to target senior figures in the British establishment, it has been claimed.

The alleged spy was barred from entering the UK by the former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. Judges at a tribunal on Thursday said Braverman had been entitled to conclude that he ‘represented a risk to the national security.’

He had tried to appeal his exclusion from the UK to the Special Immigration Appeal Commission (Siac) after he was banned last year, but his appeal was dismissed on Thursday.

What has Prince Andrew said about the ‘Chinese spy’?

The duke’s office released a statement on Friday, saying he has stopped all contact with the businessman.

The statement said: ‘The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.

‘The duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.

‘He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.’

Now the spy controversy means the Duke of York might not appear at the royal family’s yearly Christmas Day walk from the church, the Mirror reports.

The 64-year-old was set to walk along with the rest of the senior royals to church on Christmas morning.

But now King Charles is said to be ‘truly exasperated’ by his brother’s alleged links to the Chinese spy scandal.

Royal expert Jennie Bond told the outlet: ‘It’s hard to imagine the duke will have the gall to parade himself before the loyal crowds at Christmas.

‘For the sake of the monarchy, he should spend it away from Sandringham, out of the public eye.

‘The monarch’s brother has become a recurring embarrassment to the Royal Family and now he’s involved in a possible threat to national security.’

However, sources have defended Prince Andrew’s role in the alleged spy case, saying the criticism should be directed at Beijing.

A source told The Telegraph that the criticism should be aimed at China if it was confirmed that the alleged agent was ‘on manoeuvres’ for the country’s government.

It is understood that Buckingham Palace may be investigating the suspected spy’s multiple visits to royal residencies, according to the outlet.

Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has said she is supporting her ex-husband Andrew through ‘thick and thin.’

She revealed details of the former couple’s current relationship to The Sunday Times Magazine: ‘I won’t let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He’s supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce.’

She described Andre as ‘the bet, a great man with a great heart, and kind,’ adding that she ‘would do it all over again’ after she was ‘totally in utterly in love’ with him when they married.

‘Prince Andrew needs to be clear and honest’

Along with Farage, other politicians have also weighed in on the situation.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, is reportedly planning to seek a debate in the Commons tomorrow over the businessman’s alleged activities – despite the convention that MPs usually avoid discussing the affairs of the senior members of the royal family.

Sir Iain, a prominent China commentator who has himself been sanctioned by Beijing, said yesterday: ‘Prince Andrew needs to be clear and honest.

‘He has made a mistake, he was in a vulnerable period at the time. But now he needs to be properly open about what happened. There needs to be a full, proper investigation by the security services.

‘Get ready for project kowtow on steroids. The UK Government crawling on their bellies in obedience. The Government doesn’t want to upset China because they’re ‘so desperate’ over the economy.’

The government and David Cameron’s representative have been contacted for a comment.

A spokesman for May said: ‘Baroness May and her husband, Sir Philip, are photographed at numerous events in any given year; as such, she doesn’t remember when or where this particular photograph was taken or the man in question.’

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has said that the UK’s relationship with Beijing is ‘complex’ following the alleged spy links to senior figures.

She told BBC’s Laura Kuenssber today that while the government will take a ‘very strong approach’ to national security, it also needs to ensure ‘economic interaction’ and ‘economic co-operation,’ adding that it is ‘a complex arrangement.’

Dame Angela Eagle, a Home Office minister, said the businessman had thought to pose a threat ‘especially in his relationship with Prince Andrew which is why he was barred from the UK.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew invited the businessman suspected of being a Chinese spy to Buckingham Palace, it’s been reported.

The Duke of York welcomed him to the palace on two occasions, as well as Windsor Castle and St James’s Palace, The Times reports.

Yesterday, Andrew said he ‘ceased all contact’ with the man, who has been banned from Britain on national security grounds.

According to a statement from his office, the prince met him through ‘official channels’ with ‘nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed’.

The businessman was reportedly working for China’s United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence. 

A legal case, largely held behind closed doors, heard the alleged spy was authorised to act on Andrew’s behalf to seek investors in China.

The supposed spy has been deported, MailOnline reports, and his appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to reverse the ban has failed.

Several newspapers have reported that the King has been briefed about his brother’s links to the alleged spy.

The immigration court’s decision has now been made public, and during those legal proceedings judges were told about data from the alleged spy’s phone.

His phone was seized in 2021 when he was stopped under counterterrorism laws at the UK border.

It comes after the royal family reportedly took further steps over the summer to distance themselves from the disgraced duke, with the King said to have withdrawn his £1 million annual ‘living allowance’ as well as the security Charles had been privately funding for Andrew’s home.

Andrew Lownie, who is writing a biography of the Duke and Sarah, Duchess of York, said the latest revelations involving the King’s younger brother would impact the wider family and the ‘future of the monarchy’, as he called for greater transparency around the the royals’ finances.

He said: ‘The real scandals surrounding him are financial more than sexual.

‘Given he cannot police his own activities and understand where the moral boundaries lie, it is time for proper scrutiny of his finances and a public register of royal interests.

‘Judging from online comments to newspaper articles, this episode is highly damaging for the whole of the royal family whose finances and business activities should now be more transparent.

‘Time, too, for the exemption for them in the Freedom of Information Act be removed and their wills not sealed.

‘After recent scandals, I think this is a very serious moment for the future of the monarchy.’

Buckingham Palace and the Duke of York’s office have been approached for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Disgraced Prince Andrew is facing further scrutiny over links to an alleged Chinese spy.

The alleged spy was apparently invited to the Duke of York’s birthday party in 2020 – but he’s now been banned from the UK by MI5 on ‘security grounds’.

Andrew, a former UK trade envoy, has worked closely with influential business figures in the past, but it’s now come to light that this 50-year-old Chinese businessman was also a member of the Chinese Communist Party.

He was reportedly working for its United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence. 

A legal case, largely held behind closed doors, heard the alleged spy was even authorised to act on Andrew’s behalf to seek investors in China.

The alleged spy has been deported, MailOnline reports, and his appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to reverse the ban has failed.

The immigration court’s decision has now been made public, and during those legal proceedings judges were told about data from the alleged spy’s phone.

His phone was seized in 2021 when he was stopped under counterterrorism laws at the UK border.

Its contents revealed that a representative of the Duke of York had authorised the man on Andrew’s behalf to set up an international financial initiative known as the Eurasia Fund to engage with potential partners and investors in China.

Former security minister Tom Tugendhat has described the revelations as ‘extremely embarrassing’.

Asked whether Andrew’s advisers should have been aware of the alleged spy, he said: ‘It’s not immediately obvious, it could be someone who’s British who’s working in China and who’s come under the influence, so it’s not quite as black and white as it may first appear – but it’s certainly extremely embarrassing.

‘It demonstrates I’m afraid that the Chinese state is extremely clear that what its ambition is is to secure influence over foreign countries.

‘They always talk about no interference in other people’s business when people talk about human rights in China, but they do nothing but interfere in the UK and in many countries across the world.’

This is just the latest scandal involving Prince Andrew, who was forced to step back from royal duties over his links with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles has reportedly cut off Andrew’s ‘£1million allowance’ in the fallout after the Duke settled out of court with his accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022.

She claimed Epstein paid her $15,000 to have sex with Andrew – something the Duke has always denied.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Many happy returns are in order for King Charles III – as today (November 14, 2024) is his 76th birthday.

While the pomp and circumstance of Trooping the Colour – the monarch’s birthday parade – took place back in sunny June, The King’s actual birthday falls in wintery November.

The King isn’t the only Royal Family member to have a birthday in November, in the lead up to Christmas – with several others looking forward to their own big day soon.

So, when do the Royal Family’s birthdays fall each year, and how old are they all now?

Get your diaries ready, because here are all the dates you need to know.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla

King Charles III, 76, celebrates his birthday on November 14 and was born in 1948.

His wife, Queen Camilla, was born on July 17, 1947 and is currently 77 years old.

Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward

The King is the eldest of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s four children.

Anne, The Princess Royal is 74 years old and was born on August 15, 1950.

Prince Andrew, The Duke of York was born on February 19, 1960, almost a full 10 years after Anne, making him 64 years old.

The late Queen and Prince Philip’s youngest, Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, 60, celebrates his birthday on March 10 and was born in 1964.

Princess Anne has two children with her ex-husband, Mark Phillips. They are Peter Phillips (born 1977, and is 47 as of November 15, 2024) and 43-year-old Zara Tindall (born May 15, 1981).

Her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence is 69, and his birthday is March 1, 1955.

Prince Andrew has two children from his marriage with Sarah, Duchess of York. They are Princess Beatrice, 36, born August 8, 1988, and Princess Eugenie, 34, born March 23, 1990.

Prince Edward meanwhile also has two children with wife Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, whose birthday is January 20, 1965.

They are 21-year-old Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, born November 8, 2003, and 16-year-old James, The Earl of Wessex, born December 17, 2007.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children

The first royal birthday of the year belongs to Catherine, The Princess of Wales.

The Princess was born on January 9, 1982, making her 42 today, and meaning she celebrated her 40th in 2022.

Prince William, The Prince of Wales turned 40 the same year and is now 42. He was born on June 21, 1982.

The couple have three children together. Prince George was born on July 22, 2013 and is aged 11.

Princess Charlotte is nine years of age, born on May 2, 2015. Prince Louis was born on April 23, 2018 – making him six years old.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children

Prince Harry’s birthday is September 15, 1984. He celebrated his 40th this year.

His wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex is 43 and was born in California on August 4, 1981.

The couple’s eldest child, five-year-old Prince Archie, was born on May 6, 2019.

Archie’s little sister Princess Lilibet is three, and her birthday is on June 4, 2021.

Who are the youngest and oldest royals?

The youngest member of the Royal Family is Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, born to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on May 30, 2023.

But with Princess Beatrice pregnant with her second child, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, spring 2025 will see a new member of the Royal Family arrive.

The oldest in this list is Queen Camilla, at age 77. Though she’s not the oldest Royal Family member overall, as Katharine, The Duchess of Kent (wife of Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent) is currently 91 years of age.

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Share your views in the comments below

So it seems that Prince Andrew has found a sugar daddy, a benefactor willing to stump up millions of pounds to help him keep his publicly owned home, Royal Lodge, in the grounds of the Windsor Estate. 

It was reported yesterday that Andrew, who had been expected to leave the house where he has a lease until 2078 after his brother King Charles cut off the funding for his security, had shown Palace officials that he had the required funds to maintain upkeep of the 30-room mansion. 

Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, approved the money as coming from legitimate sources, The Times reported.

Well, we may be told to trust the disgraced Duke or Sir Michael that all is above board, but many are already asking questions. 

And we have grounds not to be trusting.

Not only is there the matter of the case he settled with Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked to have sex with him – claims he has always vehemently denied – he has a history of friendships with people of questionable repute.

Of course we need to know where the money is coming from, but when it comes to transparency and trustworthiness in the monarchy, Andrew’s latest wheeze is the tip of the iceberg. 

The royals have never been candid enough about their finances. 

Earlier this year, Prince William announced he wouldn’t disclose what taxes he was voluntarily paying on the £23.6m income he takes from the Duchy of Cornwall. 

He is officially exempt from income tax, so we could be forgiven for thinking he’d chosen to pay less than his father. 

Last week, a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary revealed in great detail how Charles and William demand money from charities, schools, hospitals and the military for use of Duchy land, land which many people believe ultimately belongs to the nation. 

A report from Republic in September suggested that the true cost of the monarchy could be as high as £500m a year. 

That’s far more than the £86m estimated by the Sovereign Grant, which Sir Michael Stevens, the same man who accepted Prince Andrew’s newfound wealth as legitimate, insists is value for money. 

In the summer, the press and opposition were up in arms about gifts being accepted by politicians – and rightly so. Yet the royals say little and less about their own gifts, which are considered almost impossible to trace. 

It’s no wonder that eyebrows are being raised over how Andrew can afford his upkeep, given a reported £12m was paid to Virginia Guiffre, which stemmed from Andrew’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

There are reports that Andrew’s benefactor might be someone he met during his time as a UK trade envoy, where the Duke also had a predilection for friends of what might be called questionable character. 

There was disquiet in 2011 about the Prince lunching at Buckingham Palace with a ‘notorious’ member of the former Tunisian regime. He was also said to be friends with Saif Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan leader, and gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni.

It is these friends and acquaintances and Andrew’s direct access to the highest offices of state here in the UK, that make the question of who is bankrolling his lifestyle particularly urgent. Because generous donors to public figures are rarely doing so out of the goodness of their hearts. 

So the obvious question that remains unanswered is what does Andrew’s patron want, and are they getting it?

These same questions arose when there were accusations of Charles accepting €3m in cash from a Qatari businessman, cash brought into the country in carrier bags and suitcases. 

And again when there were accusations that a Saudi businessman was offered help to get a knighthood in exchange for donations to one of Charles’ charities – allegations he denied any knowledge of. 

The royals are protected by a wall of official secrecy, exempt from the freedom of information act and governments unwilling to expose this rotten institution for what it is. 

You’ll see precious little political response to revelations of Andrew’s newfound wealth, or the outrages disclosed by Dispatches.

Knowing that they can behave in this way only emboldens the royals to continue to do as they please, to take money from whatever oligarch or businessman they enjoy lunching with.

Yet we need to know what’s going on. Gifts are given, in the words of Yes Prime Minister’s Humphrey Appleby, with the lively expectation of favours to come. As with politicians, so too with royals. 

Andrew has unique and protected access to people in positions of power and influence, and people who can make decisions about government spending, new laws and business regulation.

So if he is now in hock to an anonymous benefactor, the room for corruption and abuse of access and influence is palpable, and we are all left in the dark, told by courtiers ‘trust us, it’s all above board.’

That’s not good enough.

We need answers from the disgraced Duke, and we need them now. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Prince Andrew has conjured up enough money to stay at Royal Lodge.

His days in the 30-room, grade-II listed house in Windsor Great Park had seemed numbered after his older brother King Charles ramped up efforts to evict him.

The king, 75, wanted the Duke of York to vacate it for the nearby Frogmore Cottage, formerly home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Crucially, Prince Andrew living within the Windsor security cordon at Frogmore would have axed the security bill Charles has continued paying from his private funds.

Andrew may have stepped down from official royal duties, and been largely shunned from public view, five years ago.

But thanks to his brother’s generosity, he’s still been able to keep round-the-clock security, costing £3,000,000 per year.

That allows him to stay at the Lodge, where he lives with his former wife Sarah Ferguson under a lease agreement valid until 2078.

As what one insider dubbed ‘the siege of Royal Lodge’ dragged on, Charles handed down an ultimatum earlier this year – move, or get cut off.

Charles followed through, no longer paying for Andrew’s security.

That move seems to have failed, however, because Andrew has now convinced Palace authorities that he has the money to pay his own way.

Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, approved the money as coming from legitimate sources, The Times reported.

It may officially be deemed legitimate, but its source is no less of a mystery.

Having stepped down from royal duties, Prince Andrew no longer received public money.

The Prince’s only known income is a Royal Navy pension, leading to speculation over his source of wealth.

He is known to have made money from property sales over the years though.

Prince Andrew sold Sunninghill Park – a wedding present from Queen Elizabeth in 1986 – to Timor Kulibayev, son-in-law of Kazakhstan’s president for £15,000,000 in 2007.

In 2022, Andrew and Sarah Ferguson sold their ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier. Ferguson has since bough a £5,000,000 property in Mayfair, London.

They have also experienced debts in the past too.

Ferguson accepted £15,000 from convicted child sex offender, and Andrew’s friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to pay off a debt, in 2012. She later described this as a ‘gigantic error of judgment’.

In 2017, Andrew took out a £1,500,000 personal loan with Luxembourg-based private bank Banque Havilland, before it was paid off 11 days later by companies linked to David Rowland, a multimillionaire Conservative donor and financier.

Andrew’s biographer Andrew Lownie said: ‘Now he is no longer a working royal, there is far less scrutiny of his business activities, but it is an area that needs to be looked at.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew’s 31-bedroom Windsor home has become riddled with mould and damp, new images show.

The scandal-saddled Duke of York has resided in the 98-acre Royal Lodge for well over two decades, spending roughly £7 million to repair the £30,000,000 estate.

He and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have spent years fighting to live in the 19th century, Grade II listed property that costs hundreds of thousands of pounds to maintain.

But new photographs published by The Sun show the home rotting away, with crumbling paintwork, cracks and what appears to be mould flowering the walls.

Patches of paint on the neglected outbuildings and the gatehouse of the Royal Lodge are also peeling, the images show.

It comes after it was revealed that one in seven rental homes owned by Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall estate fail to comply with basic energy efficient requirements for landlords.

Scores of homes are blighted with mould and shivering renters are struggling with fuel poverty.

A rotting home is the latest in Andrew’s long list of woes. Brother King Charles has allegedly instructed the Keeper of the Privy Purse – who manages the monarchy’s books – to cut all ties with Andrew.

This leaves Andrew, who is unable to undertake any royal duties, with £1,000,000 less a year. Andrew has no other substantial forms of income – he can’t even use the title of ‘His Royal Highness’, a prized symbol of his status as a senior royal.

Andrew, 64, has lived in the Royal Lodge since 2003 but was told to leave the mansion nearly five years ago.

He was forced to relinquish his military titles and royal charities in 2022 after being accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

With an autumn deadline to pack his bags looming, the duke may also lose his state-paid security team and have to go private instead.

The second son of Queen Elizabeth II signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate when he moved in in 2003 on the condition of making a £1,000,000 down payment and paying £260,000 a year in rent. A National Audit Office report shows Andrew has made his payment.  

The estate, which includes eight cottages and accommodation for police and security, is packed with 40 hectares of woods and manicured lawn

But Andrew essentially squatting at the mansion has left Charles ‘impatient’, having long resisted calls to downsize.

Andrew has just two options: get a job or move into ‘more suitable accommodation’ such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s former home Frogmore Cottage.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Prince Andrew has lost his rumoured £1 million annual allowance after the King officially cut him off financially, it has been claimed.

In recent weeks Charles is said to have instructed the Keeper of the Privy Purse, his finance director, to end the Duke of York’s annual personal allowance.

The King also no longer pays for his seven-figure private security detail or for the upkeep of his 30-room Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor, it is understood.

‘The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,’ a source told the Daily Mail.

The reported move, made in royal writer Robert Hardman’s book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, makes good on the late Queen’s alleged desire to solve the ‘Andrew issue‘ once and for all.

Andrew – long touted as Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘favourite son’ – stepped back as a frontline royal in 2019 after a disastrous Newsnight interview which delved into his relationship with dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

On top of this, he was dogged for many years by claims that he had sex with then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre – who was sex trafficked by Epstein – in London in March 2001.

The pair eventually settled out of court in 2022 with Andrew accepting that Ms Giuffre was a victim of abuse. He made no admission of liability and has always denied the allegations.

Sources told Mr Hardman that, had she lived another year, the Queen would have forced Andrew to downsize to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

It sits within Windsor Castle security ‘ring of steel’ and would provide room for the Duke and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson – who he lives with.

This would allow the Duke to be protected while not being a burden on the Royal purse.

Despite the suggestion, Andrew is reportedly unwilling to leave the lodge.

Sources close to the Duke have long argued that he has a cast-iron lease on the late Queen Mother’s former home which runs until 2078 and can remain there until then.

And after being stripped of his patronages, military associations and effectively barred from using his HRH title in public, the Duke is reportedly determined to cling onto his home.

But it will come at a considerable cost and there are questions over whether Andrew can self-finance the upkeep of the 19th Century listed building.

He would also have to pay to protect several valuable and historical works of art and pieces of furniture borrowed from the Royal Collection that it houses.

Dubbed the “Siege of Royal Lodge”, Andrew has reportedly insisted he has ‘other sources of income‘ related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs.

‘If he can find the money, then that is up to him, but if not, he will find that the King does not have unlimited patience,’ an insider told the Mail.

Family friends claimed that Andrew’s ‘obstinacy’ over the latest development has ‘soured’ family relationships.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Clarence House for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The FBI’s investigation into Prince Andrew and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has been paused as officers wait for new evidence.

US police have ‘parked’ their investigation until ‘new evidence is presented that can move the case forward’.

A source told The Mirror: ‘The agents and attorneys who have, for years, worked diligently looking into Andrew’s friendship with Epstein are beyond frustrated.

‘They’re angry that the probe has been parked.’

The source added it has been some time since new evidence has been presented to investigators, meaning the case has become stalled.

FBI agents are now devoting more time to other high-profile rapists including Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

But one survivor is claiming the decision is the final ‘systematic cover-up’.

They said: ‘From the very beginning, we have been denied our voices, brushed under the carpet and told to be quiet.

‘The government always says that no one is above the law, but we all know that is untrue.’

Prince Andrew visited New York in 2011 after Epstein was released from jail for child sex offences.

Epstein killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial, and his friend Ghislaine Maxwell is serving 20 years in jail for sex trafficking.

King Charles is reportedly weighing up his options after becoming increasingly frustrated with brother Prince Andrew’s refusal to leave the Royal Lodge.

Prince Andrew, 64, is still squatting in the £30 million royal mansion despite being told to leave nearly five years ago.

The disgraced Prince’s state security was removed following a home office review and he is now being guarded by a £3 million a year private security team funded by the King’s own wealth.

He also receives a generous living allowance also provided to him by Charles.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank are marking their sixth wedding anniversary today.

This year marks their ‘iron’ anniversary, and Metro spoke to leading royal expert Duncan Larcombe about how the couple have changed in the last six years.

Since tying the knot, they’ve welcomed two sons – August and Ernest – and as two working adults, they split their time between Portugal and the UK.

Throughout their six years of marriage, however, much of it has been ‘overshadowed’ by her father Prince Andrew’s tumultuous association with Jeffrey Epstein. 

Duncan told Metro: ‘Jack has had to be a support to her throughout that period.’

Six years of marriage is often referred to as the ‘iron’ anniversary, and it seems that Eugenie and Jack’s union has been truly moulded through fire. 

Prince Andrew was first drawn into the Epstein drama in 2015, when he was named in a US civil case filed against Epstein.

In 2019 – a year after Eugenie’s marriage – Prince Andrew did his infamous BBC Newsnight interview.

‘It’s been a difficult time for Eugenie and her sister Beatrice, because they’ve had to see their father dragged through the mud,’ Duncan added.

‘It has been one of the worst sort of royal scandals for years, if not ever. I think it’s probably drawn Jack and Eugenie closer together. 

‘Eugenie really has had to lean on Jack for support throughout that period.’

Jack and Eugenie, who share two children, have been increasingly present in high profile royal events in the last six years since the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan – and Prince Andrew’s withdrawal from public life. 

‘Eugenie has become a sort of staple character of big royal events. The Queen’s Jubilee and obviously then the Queen’s funeral, then King Charles’ Coronation. She’s certainly visible at these big royal events. 

‘But at the same time, she’s a private person and I as a mother and wife, she seems keen to keep that the way it is.’

Duncan added that there have been ‘increasing’ calls for Eugenie and her sister Beatrice to carry out more official engagements due to the ‘strain’ the royal diary is under.

But that’s not likely to happen, he said. 

‘I think Eugenie and Jack are going to try and bring up their children away from the limelight,’ he observed.

‘And I think the best way of doing that is for them to continue in the way they are –  just living their life and not being part of official royal engagements too often.’

Last week, Princess Eugenie’s sister Princess Beatrice, 36, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, announced they are expecting a second baby.

The King was informed and both families are ‘delighted’, the Palace said on Tuesday.

The happy news comes during one of the royal family’s most personally challenging years, with the King, the Princess of Wales and Beatrice’s mother Sarah, Duchess of York all being diagnosed with cancer.

Sarah was treated for malignant melanoma skin cancer in January, just months after undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer, but Beatrice said in May the duchess had been given the ‘all clear’.

Beatrice is the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah, and the new baby will be the Yorks’ fourth grandchild.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A Hollywood star has praised Michael Sheen’s ’empathetic’ portrayal of Prince Andrew in A Very Royal Scandal.

Rachel Weisz, 54, admitted she ‘felt terribly’ for the disgraced royal, 64, after watching the Amazon Prime Video series.

A Very Royal Scandal is the second dramatision of Prince Andrew’s disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, played by Ruth Wilson.

While in conversation with Emily, 54, at Cliveden Literary Festival, about the TV drama adaptation, Rachel shared her feelings on Michael’s ‘imaginative’ take on Prince Andrew.

She said according to the Daily Mail: ‘What I love so much about the series is the empathy with which Prince Andrew is played, and the pathos and humanity in this character, which is something that the writer and Michael Sheen had to invent.

‘That was an imaginative act. [I was] watching the drama and feeling just so terrible, I felt terribly for Prince Andrew.’

During the discussion, Emily, who acted as executive producer on A Very Royal Scandal, revealed that she approached Rachel for advice about the show.

She said: ‘I was calling up Rachel and saying, “Help, this is your world, and I don’t know how to deal with this”.

‘I went to Rachel, first of all, and said, “What should I be doing? How much of myself should I give? Should I open up my freezer and let them see the vodka?”‘

Rachel, who described Emily as her ‘oldest friend’, revealed that she ‘felt incredible anxiety’ for her friend letting the production crew into her life.

The actress said: ‘Em’s a deeply private person, and I suddenly got worried that your life was going to be invaded in this way, and I felt very protective. And tried to give you some advice.’

A Very Royal Scandal also revealed a distressing question Prince Andrew asked Emily ahead of their Newsnight interview.

In the show, Prince Andrew leans towards Emily and says: ‘Have any of you ever been victims of abuse?’ 

Looking shellshocked, Emily replies: ‘Nothing that bares comparison.’ 

Later on in the episode, Emily is still troubled by Prince Andrew’s question, which has played on her mind.

Confiding in her husband Mark Gwynne, played by Nicholas Burns, she says: ‘You know at the end of my meeting with Prince Andrew he asked me if I had ever been the victim of abuse? It felt horrible.’

Before A Very Royal Scandal’s release, there were reportedly fears it would be eclipsed by the success of Scoop, Netflix’s drama about the Newsnight interview released earlier this year.

A Very Royal Scandal recounts the events through Emily’s perspective, whereas Scoop is based on the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – written by Newsnight producer Sam McAlister played by Billie Piper.

Despite both offerings covering the same subject matter and the ‘rivalry,’ Billie previously told Metro.co.uk that Emily, who is played by Gillian Anderson, would enjoy Scoop. ‘I’m sure she would absolutely love it,’ she stated.

Emily previously told Deadline she didn’t get involved with the Netflix film: ‘I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views].’

A Very Royal Scandal is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

A Very Royal Scandal has revealed a distressing question Prince Andrew asked Emily Maitlis ahead of their infamous BBC Newsnight interview.

The Amazon Prime series is the second drama to have retold the Royal’s car crash appearance but this time Emily, 54, is involved as an executive producer.

In the show Emily, played by Ruth Wilson, is seen being left shaken during a pre-interview meeting with Prince Andrew, played by Michael Sheen.

Leaning towards her, Prince Andrew asks Emily and her team: ‘Have any of you ever been victims of abuse?’ 

After they all say no, the 64-year-old probs: ‘Nothing in your life?’

Looking shellshocked, Emily replies: ‘Nothing that bares comparison.’ 

Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk, played by Joanna Scanlan, continues: ‘So your judgement wouldn’t be coloured by anything at all?’

‘Not at all,’ confirms Emily as the meeting concludes.

However, later on in the episode, Emily is still troubled by Prince Andrew’s question, which has played on her mind.

Confiding in her husband Mark Gwynne, played by Nicholas Burns, she says: ‘You know at the end of my meeting with Prince Andrew he asked me if I had ever been the victim of abuse? It felt horrible.’

Mark asks: ‘What did you say?’

Emily replies: ‘Well nothing, having a stalker is not remotely comparable and I don’t want to talk about it.’ 

The fictionalised Emily is referring to her real-life stalker Edward Vines, 54, who had a three-decade-long fixation with the journalist who he knew from their Cambridge University days in 1990.

In 2022, Vines, formerly of Grosvenor Road, Oxford, was jailed for eight years after attempting to breach a restraining order for the 20th time by sending letters to Emily and her mother from HMP Nottingham between May 2020 and December 2021.

Before A Very Royal Scandal’s release, there were reportedly fears it would be eclipsed by the success of Scoop, Netflix’s drama about the Newsnight interview released earlier this year.

A Very Royal Scandal recounts the events through Emily’s perspective, whereas Scoop s based on the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – written by Newsnight producer Sam McAlister played by Billie Piper.

The series goes behind the scenes to show us how the interview was secured, recreates the most memorable moments, shows reactions from the women who made the chat happen and follows some of the fallout.

Despite both offerings covering the same subject matter and the ‘rivalry,’ Billie previously told Metro.co.uk that Emily, who is played by Gillian Anderson, would enjoy Scoop. ‘I’m sure she would absolutely love it,’ she stated.

Emily previously told Deadline she didn’t get involved with the Netflix film: ‘I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views].’

During the bombshell interview, Prince Andrew discussed his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein who was found dead in August 2019 whilst awaiting trial in the televised event,

He also denied having sex with Virginia Giuffre in March 2001 and said he had ‘no recollection of ever meeting’ her.

After the interview, Prince Andrew retired from public life as a working member of the firm and paid a financial settlement to his alleged victim.

A Very Royal Scandal is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Emily Maitlis has revealed that Prince Andrew made a rather strange request after their now infamous 2019 Newsnight interview.

Emily sat down for an intimate interview with Prince Andrew where she grilled him over his former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein – resulting in the Duke of York stepping down from public life.

Despite the interview being viewed as a complete disaster for the royal family, Emily has now said Prince Andrew had actually wanted to spend even longer talking about Pizza Express and his ‘sweating’ issue.

Emily recalled: ‘Once we’d finished the interview, I said as a courtesy, “Is there anything that didn’t get included that you wanted to discuss?”

‘Prince Andrew said, “Well actually, there were a couple of things. You didn’t include my alibi.” He wanted to talk about the fact that he’d been at Pizza Express on the night in question. 

‘And it was a very complicated moment for us because, on the one hand, I knew that if he included some of the stuff that he wanted to talk about, for example the sweating and the Pizza Express alibi, it was not going to help his case, in fact, it was actually going to make it look worse.’

The former Newsnight presenter said she felt a kind of ‘responsibility’ to not let Prince Andrew ‘walk into that’ – but also felt responsible to include things he felt were important to mention.

Despite her massive success after the interview with Prince Andrew, Emily also said it’s made her career more difficult as some sources are now intimidated due to her fame.

She said: ‘So, I think it’s slightly double-edged. Some people come towards you, and some run a mile.’

The journalist grilled Andrew over allegations that Epstein’s victim Virginia Giuffre was trafficked to have sex with the royal when she was 17 – still a minor under US law – during the Newsnight exclusive.

The Duke denied he had sex with Ms Giuffre, adding he had no recollection of ever meeting her and that he had spent the day of the alleged meeting at a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking, Surrey, at a party with one of his daughters.

In one alleged encounter, Ms Giuffre claimed that Andrew had sweated heavily as they danced at London nightclub Tramp.

However, he denied this saying he could not sweat at the time due to a medical condition relating from his time serving in the Falklands War.

Maitlis – who left the BBC in February 2022 and now works on Global’s The News Agents podcast – said: ‘This is how I know that Prince Andrew was happy with the interview, because he stayed chatting. He seemed very jolly.’

She added: ‘A whole load of people came in and I said, “What’s going on?” And they said: “Oh Thursday evenings we have cinema night at the palace. You can stay if you want.”

‘And at that point, I just thought: “I’ve got to get away from here. I need space to work out what just happened.” ‘

Last year, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement – which was not an admission of wrongdoing – with Ms Giuffre reportedly worth up to $12 million (£9.6 million) following her claim against him in the US.

The duke has always strenuously denied the allegations against him.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York in August 2019 at the age of 66 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

King Charles is reportedly weighing up his options after becoming increasingly frustrated with brother Prince Andrew’s refusal to leave the Royal Lodge.

Prince Andrew, 64, is still squatting in the £30 million royal mansion despite being told to leave nearly five years ago.

The disgraced Prince’s state security was removed following a home office review and he is now being guarded by a £3 million a year private security team funded by the King’s own wealth. He also receives a generous living allowance also provided to him by Charles.

But the King is said to be losing patience over ‘The Andrew Problem’ and has made it clear there are now ‘only two possible options’ left for his brother, The Times reported.

The first is for Andrew to become financially independent and find the means to fund his own expenses and security detail – but as the Duke has no discernable income and has never held a proper job, this option is looking unlikely.

The second, and more likely option, is for Andrew to agree to move into ‘more suitable accommodation’, with Harry and Meghan’s former home Frogmore Cottage being earmarked as an appropriate new abode for the prince.

Frogmore Cottage has the benefit of being within the existing security cordon of the royal Windsor estate, and was recently refurbished by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex before they moved abroad.

Andrew is thought to have been given an autumn deadline to leave Royal Lodge, it was reported last month, following an ultimatum by the King.

But Andrew has been reluctant to leave, having signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate when he moved in in 2003 on condition of making a £1million down payment and paying £260,000-a-year in rent.

Last month it was reported that Charles is said to be ‘reconsidering’ the amount of money he gives Andrew, and was said to have personally told his brother’s security team their services will not be needed once their contract expires in autumn.

A source has described the stand-off between Charles and Andrew as ‘the siege of Royal Lodge’, and told the Times he is ‘taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action’. 

The King is reportedly looking to generate income from the Royal Lodge once it is finally vacated by renting it out for £1 million a year- but will need to kick his brother out first.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Viewers are outraged after Richard Madeley ‘defended’ Prince Andrew on Good Morning Britain.

Hosting the show alongside Charlotte Hawkins on August 26, Madeley, 68, spoke to Kwasi Kwarteng and Nells Abbey about the news of the day, eventually bringing up the subject of Prince Andrew’s involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

The conversation was prompted by an image of the Duke of York’s Newsnight interview in 2019 with Emily Maitlis passing the first stage of the National Gallery’s acquisitions process.

Madeley asked his co-host and the panel members: ‘Is it time to lay off Prince Andrew?’

The host continued: ‘This photograph which was taken a few minutes after he wrapped his car crash interview with Emily Maitlis, saying, “Well that went rather well didn’t it?” Totally unaware of what he’d just done to his profile, his future, his reputation and everything.’

Madeley went on to say that National Portrait Gallery’s acquisition of the picture ‘seems to be rubbing his face in it.’

He then asked: ‘Is it time to cut the guy just a little bit of slack? Has he suffered enough?’

After Kwarteng pointed out that Prince Andrew has ‘hit rock bottom,’ Madeley said: ‘He’s a human being.’

Viewers online were quick to react to the moment, with many condemning Madeley for seemingly defending the Duke of York, with some even calling for him to be fired.

User @deanbegley1 went even farther, calling for Madeley to be removed from the program and calling him ‘rude and ignorant’ and writing, ‘he should be immediately sacked.’

@Chr1stop4 wrote: ‘Is Richard Madeley actually defending Prince Andrew?’

@CooneyCooney17 posted: ‘Can’t believe Madeley saying is it time to lay off Prince Andrew, cut him a bit of slack!!!! No!! Switched off!#GMB’

@muttlysaid posted: ‘Richard Madeley: “We should be giving Prince Andrew a break. He’s had enough”. Seriously folks. Just turn the telly off. You’ll feel better & that bellend won’t have an audience to aim his brain farts at.’

@ThomsonFTD wrote: ‘Richard Madeley is insufferable. “We should be giving Prince Andrew a break. He’s had enough” he says. Nonce protectors out in force for the mainstream media once again.’

The backlash comes after rumours that Prince Andrew is set to lose his security detail protecting him at his home on Windsor estate.

It’s been speculated for months now that King Charles is looking to remove Andrew from his home in Windsor, and the loss of his security detail seems to be another step towards that eviction.

Andrew’s security have been privately funded by Charles after he lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

Prince Andrew has been sidelined as a working royal since the Newsnight interview in 2019 about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual abuse.

He also settled a sexual assault case with a woman named Virginia Giuffre in 2022, paying her an estimated £12 million to settle the suit privately after she claimed she had been trafficked to have sex with him three times when she was 17 years old.

The Duke of York has repeatedly denied the allegations or having even met Ms Giuffre.

Metro has contacted ITV for comment.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Prince Andrew is set to lose his security detail protecting him at home on Windsor estate, according to reports.

The King is said to no longer be prepared to privately fund his brother’s guards, amid speculation he wants to turf him out of the Royal Lodge entirely.

Andrew’s security have been privately funded by Charles after he lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

According to The Sun on Sunday, members of the current security detail have been told their services will not be needed from November.

A palace insider told the newspaper: ‘Everyone is speculating this means the duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?’

Sources added: ‘It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out.’

The Duke of York has been sidelined as a working royal since his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019 about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual abuse.

Earlier this year, it was reported Andrew refused an offer to move out of Royal Lodge on Windsor Great Park into nearby Frogmore Cottage, the previous home of Prince Harry and his family.

The saga has been ongoing for some time, with a friend of the King telling the Times in June: ‘Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides.

‘And the duke would be required to fund the lion’s share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own – which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.’

Andrew could not meet the £400,000-a-year upkeep of the 30-room royal residence, which is worth around £30 million.

The duke was said to have signed a 75-year lease on the mansion in 2003.

The Sun said both Charles and Andrew are staying at the Balmoral estate in Scotland this weekend.

Pressure on Andrew continues to mount after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

A batch of legal papers released earlier this year detailed how Epstein’s former housekeeper Juan Alessi claimed the duke had daily massages when he spent ‘weeks’ at the paedophile financier’s Florida home.

Juan Alessi, who worked at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence, said both the duke and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with Epstein and the now-convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Previous allegations Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17 including during an orgy resurfaced in the court documents.

He strenuously denies the claims and in 2022 paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil case out of court, saying he never met her.

The Metropolitan Police said no new investigation has been launched.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Thousands of anxious A-Level students will receive their results today, helping to form their plans for after school – whether that be university or otherwise.

It’s an anxiety which much of the UK has experienced at one point in their life – including the royal family.

It was nearly 25 years ago that Prince William received his A-Level results, securing his place at the University of St Andrews.

Some of the royal family opted to take more GCSEs than A-Levels, but nearly all of the royals attended university afterwards – even as some didn’t score particularly well.

Prince William

After attending a preparatory school in Berkshire for five years, Prince William went on to attend the esteemed Eton College in 1995.

He left in 2000 with 12 GCSES and three A-Levels: an A in Geography, B in Art and C in Biology.

Wills didn’t head straight to university, however – he took a gap year and headed to Belize and Chile with Raleigh International.

In 2001, he began university at St Andrews, where he studied art history and later changed to geography.

Prince Harry

Prince Harry did 11 GCSEs and two A-Levels, having also attended Eton College.

He earned a B in Art and a D in Geography, before going to join the Army shortly after finishing his studies.

King Charles

Prince Charles had a more ‘traditional’ schooling, having attended Gordonstoun school, where he did five GCSEs (known then as O-levels), and two A-Levels.

He earned a B in History and a C in French, but was still able to go on to Cambridge University, where he studied anthropology, archaeology and history.

He later served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

Princess Kate

Kate Middleton took on a whopping 11 GCSEs and three A-Levels when she attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire.

She finished her A-Levels in 2000, earning As in both Maths and Art and a B in English.

Like her future husband, she took a gap year in Chile with Raleigh International, having missed meeting William there by just a few weeks. Luckily, they met later while studying at St Andrews.

Kate went on to earn her degree in History of Art from St Andrew’s in 2005.

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice took on nine GCSEs, earning two A*s. She also did three A-Levels – earning an A in Drama and Bs in History and Film Studies while she was a pupil at St George’s School in Ascot.

She later studied History and History of Ideas at Goldsmiths in London, where she graduated in 2011.

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie’s A-Level results were so impressive that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, sent out a statement to tell the world.

She earned two A*s in her GCSEs and As in Art, English Literature and a B in History of Art while attending Marlborough College in Wiltshire – the same as Princess Kate did.

Eugenie went onto university after finishing college, studying English Literature and History of Art and Politics at Newcastle University, where she graduated in 2012.

Princess Anne

Though her official marks haven’t ever been disclosed, Princess Anne took six GCSEs (then known as O-levels) and three A-Levels in English, History and Politics.

The Princess Royal didn’t go on to university after college. When asked about her decision, she said: ‘So many of my contemporaries, when asked why they were going to university, would say, “Well basically because that’s what you do.”‘

‘And I remember thinking really that doesn’t sound like a very good reason to go university, so I thought I would skip that.’

Logical as always.

Prince Edward

Prince Edward, like his brothers, attended Gordonstoun but took on a heavier academic load than his siblings.

He took nine GCSEs (O-Levels) and three A-Levels: a C in English, D in History and D in Politics.

Prince Edward went to Cambridge, where he studied History and graduated in 1986. He then went to serve in the Royal Marines.

Prince Andrew

Like his brother Charles, Andrew attended Gordonstoun, where he earned six GCSEs (O-levels) and A-Levels in English, History and Politics.

He also opted not to go to university, instead enrolling into Britannia Royal Naval College and later serving in the Falklands War.

Which Royal scored the highest?

Out of all the royals, Princess Eugenie and Princess Kate appear to have scored the highest overall on their A-Levels.

Princess Eugenie’s parents put out a statement when she received her marks, reading: ‘We are delighted by Eugenie’s achievements. She has worked extremely hard towards these justifiably fantastic results.’

She went on to graduate from Newcastle University with a 2:1 in English literature and History of Art.

Princess Kate beat her husband to become the top scoring Wales in her A-Levels.

She finished at St Andrew’s with a 2:1 Honors in Art History.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

King Charles is reportedly planning to rent out the Royal Lodge for up to £1 million a year after Prince Andrew finally vacates the premises. 

His Majesty is understood to be eager to generate revenue from the £30 million mansion though Andrew apparently remains reluctant to leave, The Sun reports. 

His brother – who stepped back from public duties amid allegations of sex trafficking related to his relationship with late financier and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – has apparently so far rejected all offers of alternative accommodation. 

An insider told the newspaper: ‘It makes sense for Royal Lodge to be handed back to Crown Estates, which can pay for the much-needed repairs and renovations.

‘It could then be rented to earn money for them, the King’s coffers and the country rather than being a drain on everyone’s resources.’

One property expert is understood to have speculated that ‘rental of £1 million a year is not far-fetched for a house of that size with incredible royal connections.’

It follows amid reports that Charles has threatened to completely sever ties with Andrew if he does not vacate the Royal Lodge for Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry. 

Andrew is understood to be presently living at the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. 

Rumours have even been swirling that Prince William may at one point have been eyeing the mansion for his own family. 

A friend of Charles previously said: ‘Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides.

‘And the duke would be required to fund the lion’s share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own – which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

King Charles has threatened to completely cut ties with Prince Andrew if he refuses to move into Prince Harry’s old home Frogmore Cottage, a friend of the monarch has claimed.

The disgraced Duke of York, who no longer carries out official duties, currently lives in Royal Lodge with with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

But the King has been trying to get his brother to leave the mansion amid rumours Prince William is looking to move into the home.

Charles is reportedly willing to pay for brother to live comfortably out of his own private funds.

A friend of the monarch told The Times: ‘Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides.

‘And the duke would be required to fund the lion’s share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own – which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.’

Andrew could not meet the £400,000-a-year upkeep of the royal residence, which is worth around £30 million.

He has been forbidden for engaging in any royal duties over his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Prince Andrew was told to leave the property, but was granted a ‘stay of execution’ after he made a deal with the King to carry out repair works on the property.

But pictures show the building needs more work, potentially starting a new row.

Frogmore Cottage is said to be in good condition after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle carried out renovation work, and would make significant savings if Andrew were to move in.

Andrew first moved into Royal Lodge in 2004 and signed a 75-year lease, paying £250 a week.

He also agreed to maintain the vast property.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Following the Duke of York’s ‘stay of execution’ at his Windsor home being granted last year, new photos appear to show his home crumbling.

Prince Andrew, 63, has been fighting to stay at his 30-room Royal Lodge mansion – which requires £400,000 per year to upkeep the sprawling 19th century, Grade II listed property.

King Charles previously demanded Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah move out of the 90 acre property into somewhere smaller, such as Frogmore Cottage.

Even as Andrew has been allowed to stay in the home if he keeps up with repairs, damp issues and wear and tear have proven the upkeep is a lot.

Worsening cracks in the brickwork, plaster falling off and other issues appear in newly released photos today.

His annual allowance – believed to be around £250,000 – was stopped after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal forced him to step back from public duties.

One family friend said last year: ‘It’s all a bit cloud cuckoo-land, I’m afraid.

‘No one, not least His Majesty, believes there is any realistic, long-term chance of the Duke of York being able to keep the roof at Royal Lodge over his head.’

The King is unable to simply kick Andrew out of the property, as he took it over from the Crown Estate in 2004 on a long-term lease.

He has since spent millions of pounds on renovations – if Andrew was persuaded to move, the Crown Estate could end up owing him money.

An insider said: ‘The Duke is clearly not going without a fight. This will all probably end in tears, most likely his.’

It has long been rumoured that the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are currently living in four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with their three children, might move in. 

But it is believed that the Crown Estate wouldn’t rule out renting the Royal Lodge commercially either in order to get the best return. 

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Amazon is reportedly concerned after Netflix had major success with Scoop.

The film focused on the Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew, which is also the subject of Amazon’s upcoming series A Very Royal Scandal.

The three-parter is set to be released in October, six months after Netflix subscribers were able to watch Scoop, which was released on April 5.

Bosses are now said to be trying to come up with new ideas to get more interest in their upcoming show.

‘Amazon’s in crisis talks,’ a TV insider claimed.

They added to the Sun: ‘They spent a lot of money and are really worried that when it comes out, the public will think, “We’ve watched this,” and it’ll flop.’

One publicity idea is said to have Emily Maitlis, an executive producer, interview actress Ruth Wilson, who plays her.

‘Amazon feels like it’s already lost the battle with Netflix,’ the source concluded.

The Prince Andrew interview was conducted by Emily, whose perspective will be the focus of A Very Royal Scandal.

Whereas, Scoop is based on the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – written by Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, who is played by Billie Piper. The series goes behind the scenes to show us how the interview was secured, recreates the most memorable moments, shows reactions from the women who made the chat happen and follows some of the fallout.

The film, which was given four stars by Metro.co.uk, has remained in the top 10 most-viewed films on the platform since its release and is currently sitting at number two.

Despite both offerings covering the same subject matter and the ‘rivalry,’ Billie told Metro.co.uk that Emily, who is played by Gillian Anderson, would enjoy Scoop. ‘I’m sure she would absolutely love it,’ she stated.

Emily previously told Deadline she didn’t get involved with the Netflix film: ‘I’ve left them very much to do their own thing because I think the last thing they want is me peeking around the edges offering my [views].’

The Duke of York discussed his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein who was found dead in August 2019 whilst awaiting trial in the televised event, which has inspired both Netflix and Amazon.

In the interview, Prince Andrew denied having sex with Virginia Giuffre in March 2001 and said he had ‘no recollection of ever meeting’ her.

After some car crash answers, he retired from public life as a working member of the firm, and he paid a financial settlement to his alleged victim.

In A Very Royal Scandal, Prince Andrew will be played by Michael Sheen, while Rufus Sewell took on the royal role in Scoop.

Metro.co.uk contacted Amazon Video for comment.

Scoop is available to watch on Netflix now. A Very Royal Scandal will be on Amazon Prime in October.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Billie Piper has written the first draft of a new romantic comedy movie following her explosive performance in Prince Andrew drama Scoop.

The Doctor Who actress most recently appeared as Sam McAlister in the Netflix project which depicts the infamous Newsnight interview between the disgraced Royal (Rufus Sewell) and Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson).

And she’s now revealed on a recent episode of the Table Manners podcast that she has written a script for her next feature after writing and directing 2019’s Rare Beast.

‘I’ve literally finished my first draft last week,’ she shared. ‘I say it’s a first draft, it’s like the vomit draft so it is just more of a purge of ideas, then I’ll refine it to a first draft and then probably 18 more drafts down the line.’

The 41-year-old explained that once she’s happy with the script, she will shop it around and see if ‘anyone wants to buy it’.

Divulging further details about the project, Billie jokingly said: ‘It’s a romantic comedy but it’s not that romantic or that funny at this moment, it’s dark, but that’s really my skill set, I think, the darker comedy stuff.’

When podcast co-host and singer Jessie Ware asked if she would star in the feature, Billie admitted she probably would, even though she vowed to never star in and direct the same film after making Rare Beasts.

‘I said I would never be in something that I’m directing ever again but now I’m like, “I guess I’ll be in it too,”‘ she continued.

‘I think so, I don’t know, I have no idea. Also, it may never even see the light of day.’

Billie made her directorial debut with Rare Beasts, a psychological romantic drama film which also starred Leo Bill, David Thewlis and Lily James.

In Scoop, Billie stars as Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who spent a year behind the scenes, working tirelessly to get the Duke of York in front of Emily Maitlis.

To embody Sam, the former 90s popstar had to wear a peroxide blonde, long, wavy wig that set back producers a whooping £11,000.

Billie, whose movies and TV shows include I Hate Suzie, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Catherine Called Birdy, said it was the ‘most expensive’ she had ever worn.

Sam wrote the book – Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews – the Netflix film was based on and served as an executive producer on the project.

Billie spent a lot of time – both on and off set – with Sam to perfect her mannerisms, previously telling Metro.co.uk her presence was a ‘gift’ for an actress.

‘I didn’t really have the access to many filmed appearances of Sam – there were one or two that I regularly binged,’ she said.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.