THE Queen has given Prince Andrew her backing and thinks he has “shown strength in telling the truth”, a royal source has revealed today.
Her Majesty and other senior royals are said to “back and believe” his version of events, after he spoke to the BBC about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Queen pictured going to church yesterday – hours after Andrew told her the interview went well
The Evening Standard quoted a palace source saying: “His Royal Highness has the backing of the Queen and his close family, they believe in him totally and think he has shown strength for telling the truth and admitting the errors he has made.
“There is no question of him being ordered to reduce his duties. He just wants to get on with his job.
“He has told the truth in detail.”
Yesterday Prince Andrew was reportedly buoyant as he attended church with The Queen despite the backlash to the interview.
In a show of support, the monarch stood by her favourite son as they attended church on the Windsor estate.
His pal revealed last night: The Duke went to church with the Queen and was heard telling her its all been a great success.
He thinks hes done the right thing and has put the criticism to rest. He was all smiles and was looking very buoyant and happy.
Andrew denied he had sex with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts in 2001 after going to Tramps nightclub in London, claiming he was at a Pizza Express with his daughter Princess Beatrice.
Ms Roberts claims she had sex with the prince three times – which he strongly denies.
Emily Maitlis shared the bizarre details of the Newsnight recordingin The Times, writing he “[did] not seem particularly nervous” or “like a man who’s about to decide his own fate”.
He appeared so relaxed that as she left Buckingham Palace Andrew said: “Next time you come, we will talk about Pitch at Palace [his entrepreneurial work].”
Ms Maitlis added: “It nods to the fact he feels he can now get on with the work he loves. But I probably shouldn’t wait by the phone.”
Palace officials have insisted thePrince will continue with his public work, with a “business as usual” view and Buckingham Palace did not comment on the Queen’s views.
Ms Maitlis also wrote how she believed the Queen gave her approval for the interview – which viewers described as a “car crash”and Andrew apparently watched at home on Saturday night.
The journalist revealed: “We have finished laying our pitch. An awkward moment of silence falls. And the Duke tells us he must ‘seek approval from higher up’.
“It dawns on us he means the Queen herself.”At 8am the next day we have a message telling us to call his office. The Queen, it seems, is on board.”
After it aired the Duke of York was slammed by viewers for his “lack of empathy” after discussing his friendship with Epstein.
Epstein was first jailed in 2008 for procuring an underage girl for prostitution. He got an 18-month sentence, during which he was able to go on work release to his office six days a week. He was released on probation after 13 months.
This July he was arrested on sex trafficking allegations. On August 10 he was found hanged at the New York Metropolitan Correctional Centre three weeks after being found unconscious with neck injuries.
Checks were not carried out on the night in question, and CCTV appeared to have malfunctioned. Officials are investigating.
The Queen pictured riding today amid the fallout of her son’s Newsnight interview
Prince Andrew, pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in New York in 2010
