Prince Andrew is 'utterly convinced' that he will brush off allegations of rape and sexual assault from Jeffrey Epstein's former sex slave and believes he could return to public life as soon as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee next year, insiders have claimed.
The Duke of York has apparently told aides that the scandal surrounding the bombshell lawsuit filed in a US court by Virginia Giuffre will 'blow over' and has earmarked a return to the royal front line in time for Her Majesty's historic anniversary next year.
Sources described Andrew's 'incredibly bullish' attitude and said he believes there is time to salvage his reputation. Palace sources have insisted the duke will 'not take part' in any of the official celebrations marking the Queen's seven decades on the throne.
One insider close to the royal told The Daily Mirror: 'It is clear he (Andrew) has a clear and burning desire to return to work as soon as possible.
'That may look entirely impossible but if anything he's become emboldened in recent weeks and remains utterly convinced he will not only be exonerated but will certainly forge a way back to public life.
'Certainly he has given the incredibly bullish impression that this will all blow over within a short while, rather than become a protracted issue.'
Andrew was seen leaving the Royal Lodge in Berkshire with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson on Tuesday for Balmoral, where the Queen is currently on holiday, as attempts to serve legal papers on him over sex allegations at Windsor continue.
On Wednesday the duke was seen at a a fishing lodge in a secluded forest six miles from Balmoral and was said to have had a personal lunch with the Queen.
Another source revealed the Duke had been in a 'buoyant' mood, adding: 'Andrew claims he hasn't read the news and hasn't kept up with what is happening around him, which anyone can see is not only catastrophic for his reputation but very damaging for the wider royal family.'
Andrew has not yet publicly responded to the bombshell lawsuit filed in a US court by paedophile financier Epstein's ex-sex slave Ms Giuffre, who claims he sexually abused her when she was 17. The duke has always denied her allegations.
Ms Giuffre has accused Andrew of abusing her at Epstein's Manhattan mansion as well as his private Caribbean island, and at the London home of his madam Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently in a New York jail awaiting sex abuse and grooming charges.
Prince Andrew is pictured with Sarah Ferguson in the back seat of the Range Rover as they left Windsor
Virginia Roberts, now Virginia Giuffre, was photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in London in 2001
Prince Andrew (left) arrives at Balmoral with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in the back of a Range Rover
The Queen during an inspection at the gates at Balmoral as she takes up summer residence at the Scottish castle on August 9
Papers have not yet been served on the Duke of York or his lawyers despite 'multiple attempts' at Royal Lodge in the last fortnight, according to The Sun - and Andrew is now set to stay at the Queen's 50,000 acre estate while the case is heard.
Andrew will have to be served in person with court papers including a copy of Ms Guiffre's complaint under the Hague Convention international law treaty because he is a foreign citizen.
When the lawsuit was filed, her legal team were given 120 days to get Andrews the papers or his lawyers could try to get the case dismissed.
Andrew would have 21 days to respond once the papers are officially served.
Under the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, papers must be served on all defendants within 120 days after a civil complaint is filed at court - and the action can then be dismissed unless the plaintiff can 'show good cause for the delay'.
This means Ms Guiffre's lawyers will have until December 8 to serve the papers on Andrew.
The civil suit is due to be heard via a telephone conference next Monday in Manhattan.
A source told the Sun: 'Andrew was going stir-crazy inside Royal Lodge for the past few weeks.
'He wasn't going horse riding and couldn't step outside because of attempts to serve him with the legal papers.
'He knows he is far safer up at Balmoral on the Queen's estate. Andrew is always described as the Queen's favourite son but she is meant to be on holiday at Balmoral.
'With Andrew and everything that is happening with Charles and the investigation into cash for honours she must be wondering when she
