Prince Andrew has been secretly visiting the Queen every night at Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew, 62, Duke of York, is a member of the British royal family. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He is ninth in the line of succession to the British throne.
The prince who was known to be the Queen’s favorite son had his 62nd birthday on Saturday. The report says that he was driven to see his mom every night last week to discuss his $16 million Virginia Giuffre s*x case settlement and future role.
A royal source told the outlet: “Andrew has been very careful and is trying to keep out of sight. He knows there are photographers in the daytime and his best chance to avoid them is after dark.”
“He knows he is meant to be keeping his head down and it’s a short trip, but he is extremely contrite and apologized to the Queen for all the trouble he has caused her,” the source added.
The Duke of York is also believed to have apologized to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, over the scandal which has left the Royal Family in crisis.
News of the secret nighttime visits comes about a week after it emerged that Prince Charles ordered Andrew to stay “out of the line of sight” and away from Windsor Castle amid the ongoing controversy.
Prince Andrew paid a reported $16 million settlement to end Giuffre’s s*x abuse lawsuit against him. He had repeatedly denied the allegations.
Ms. Giuffre alleges she was forced to have s*x with Prince Andrew three times aged 17 in 1990, claims he categorically denied. It has been claimed that she is thought to have been silenced over the allegations until after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
A royal insider told the Sun on Sunday that Andrew realizes the seriousness of the scandal and “the damage it has done to the monarchy”.
They added that the last thing he would want is to cause “anguish” to his beloved mother at her age and in her milestone year.
The source said “it’s certainly true” that the Queen has a “soft spot” for him and “regards him as her favorite son”.
Prince Andrew previously fled to the royal estate in Balmoral, Scotland, last summer to be with his mother during her annual break as Ms. Giuffre’s legal team tried to serve him legal papers.
Future kings Prince Charles and Prince William are said to have been eager for Prince Andrew to settle the case quickly. However, the Duke may have found more support with William’s own brother Harry. It is claimed that Prince Andrew reached out to the Duke of Sussex as he explores the possibility of life outside the Firm.
However, it is reported Prince Andrew will make a public appearance at a thanksgiving service for his late dad Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey next month.
It has not yet been decided if he can attend the Queen’s jubilee service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in June, as the monarch ponders over Andrew’s future.
Yesterday, councilors in York said they were taking steps to remove Prince Andrew’s Freedom of the City honor and call for him to give up his title in the wake of his settlement with Ms. Giuffre.
Now he is facing mounting calls to forfeit his 31-bedroom grace-and-favor home in Windsor, although he could be entitled to a $10 million taxpayer-funded compensation if he is forced out.