The Duke of York has jetted back to the UK for ‘crisis talks’ with his aides as the Jeffrey Epstein story intensifies.
Prince Andrew came back from Spain alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, to try and manage the situation which threatens to engulf the 59-year-old royal.
Speaking to The Sun, a royal source said: “Andrew and Fergie flew back together on Wednesday. He knows he has to come back and face the music.
“The optics were not a good look, with so many stories about the Epstein accusers while he was on a sunny golf course in Spain.
“He’s having a series of talks with advisers this week about how to salvage his reputation going forward.”
Since Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide earlier this month, Prince Andrew has been dragged into a storm, with people questioning why he continued his friendship with the disgraced financier, even after Epstein was sent to prison for soliciting a minor.
The Duke has since apologised for his former friendship, and stressed he did not suspect any of the behaviour Epstein committed.
Last week, the Duke released a lengthy statement in which he claimed that he first met Epstein in 1999 – one year before the picture in The Mirror was taken.
Andrew said: “I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year.”
He continued: “At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.”
In 2011 the Duke apologised for continuing his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after the disgraced financier was jailed for 18 months in 2008.
Prince Andrew has stressed on a number of occasions that he has never engaged in any wrongdoing and at no stage suspected Epstein’s behaviour.
Epstein was facing federal sex trafficking charges in New York, however, news emerged of his death on Saturday morning.
The disgraced financier killed himself in his Manhattan cell just a few hours after the new court documents were opened.
