Prince Andrew is said to be planning a return to public life despite unresolved legal issues in the U.S. in connection as a result of his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York is apparently reframing his working status and hopes to take an active part in royal duties, according to sources in a Sunday Times report and its royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah.
Prince Andrew is taking a beat on the public's mood, a source told Nikkah. Andrew quit royal duties almost a year ago under a cloud as a result of the Epstein scandal.
The source said the Queen's second son felt he had the support of his mother and Prince Charles to restart his royal duties. However, the source didn't say the duke was ready to talk with U.S. authorities.
Since the Epstein's scandal broke the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. has been seeking to speak to the duke - who admitted that he was friends with Epstein for years. One of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre, claimed she had an intimate relationship with Andrew before she was of legal age.
The FBI wants Prince Andrew to sit down with them instead of delivering a prepared statement. The bureau wants to know what knowledge Andrew has of Epstein's illegal activities. Epstein was on trial for sex trafficking before he took his own life in prison in mid-2019.
His girlfriend and alleged pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell, is also on trial. At a recent court appearance in New York, Maxwell confirmed she and Prince Andrew talked about his accuser and both were in agreement that Giuffre was a liar.
Insiders confirmed the royal family has had discussions about Andrew. However, the source suggested the duke was unlikely to be reinstated or given an official role.
Apparently, his association with Epstein will continue to have a negative effect on the work of the royal family. Even a "rebranding" of Prince Andrew's role won't be sufficient because his reputation is now "indelibly associated with Epstein."
The duke was last seen leaving his home at Royal Lodge, Windsor. Andrew wore a face mask but it was unclear where he was heading this past weekend.
