Aside from the public backlash, Prince Andrew is reportedly facing the British royal family's wrath over his disastrous interview on BBC Newsnight. Allegedly, the Duke of York had a one-on-one talk with his father, Prince Philip, who told him to take his "punishment" after his talk with Emily Maitlis went downward spiral that resulted in his resignation from royal duties.
A palace insider told The Telegraph that Prince Andrew and Prince Philip had a tense talk. The Duke of Edinburgh reportedly told his son to accept his punishment after he endangered the "very fabric of the royal family."
Prince Andrew was reportedly ordered to drive 140 miles to his mother's, Queen Elizabeth II, country retreat Sandringham to have a "showdown" with Prince Philip. Although the discussion didn't involve any screaming or shouting, the 98-year-old patriarch told him "in no uncertain terms that he had to step down" for the monarchy's sake. The senior royal never like trial by the media, but he knows that his son's actions endanger the royal family.
According to The Sun, Price Andrew's older brother, Prince Charles, was also at the meeting with their father. The whole thing was very civilized and calm, but the Prince of Wales read him the "riot act" and told him, "there was no way back for him in the near future."
"Andrew thought he was being treated harshly as nothing has yet been proven against him," the insider added. "But he accepted the decision. He really had little choice."
Prince Philip reportedly asked Prince Andrew to be "upfront, open and honest" about the possible future bombshells. He allegedly feels sorry that his child doesn't know how to lead a simple life, thinking he is too extravagant.
The troubled prince's meeting with his father came after Virginia Roberts gave a tell-all interview to BBC Panorama. She insisted that she was trafficked by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and forced to sleep with Prince Andrew on three occasions, and the first incident happened when she was only 17 years old.
In Prince Andrew's interview, on the other hand, he admitted he "let the side down" by having a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. However, he denied meeting Virginia Roberts in any occasion, per Express.
Royal aides revealed Prince Andrew didn't inform Queen Elizabeth about the interview. In a statement that the Buckingham Palace released on Nov. 20, it announced the removal of the duke's royal duties, which would make him lose £249,000 worth of sovereign grant. He then revealed he would step down from his role for the "foreseeable future" due to the disruption that the scandal caused to the royal family.
