Queen, 95, worships in public for first time since Covid struck as royals close ...

Queen, 95, worships in public for first time since Covid struck as royals close ...
Queen, 95, worships in public for first time since Covid struck as royals close ...

The Queen has been pictured joining the congregation at a church service on the grounds of Windsor Great Park for the first time since the pandemic struck.

Queen Elizabeth has been attending private services throughout the pandemic for the last 18 months but as lockdown restrictions have eased, she attended the service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in the grounds of the nearby Royal Lodge.

The last time the Queen was pictured at the chapel was with late husband Prince Philip in July last year after the lockdown wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Dressed in matching mauve coat and hat, the Queen appeared serious as she was driven to the church as legal difficulties facing Prince Andrew.   

It has been claimed the Duke of York will not return to public life after Charles, Edward and Anne closed the door on him and William branded him a 'threat to the royal family'. 

Pictured: Earlier today, the Queen was pictured being driven to a public service for the first time since Covid began

Pictured: Earlier today, the Queen was pictured being driven to a public service for the first time since Covid began

Service attended by the Queen (pictured) took place at the Royal Chapel of All Saints on grounds of Royal Lodge at Windsor

Service attended by the Queen (pictured) took place at the Royal Chapel of All Saints on grounds of Royal Lodge at Windsor

Scotland Yard is also reported to have spoken to the Duke of York's sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre over claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by Andrew when she was 17.

The royal has come under intense scrutiny over the claims and over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein.

Andrew, who is not facing any criminal charges, 'categorically' denies Ms Giuffre's claims against him and is thought to be keen to make a return as a working royal.

However, according to sources close to him, Prince William sees his uncle as a threat to the Royal Family and doesn't intend to let him return to public life. 

The 39-year-old, who is second in line to the throne, is said to have been involved in crisis talks with his grandmother and father - The Queen and Prince Charles - over the decision to suspend Andrew from public duty. 

It was also reported that Andrew's siblings - Charles, Anne and Edward - also ruled out his return to public duty at a meeting in January. 

Prince William (pictured left with the Duchess of Cambridge) sees his uncle Prince Andrew as a threat to the Royal Family and will never let him return to public life, according to a new report

The Duke of York (pictured in April after the death of his father, Prince Philip) has come under intense scrutiny for his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein, and has been accused of sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre at Epstein's New York home two decades ago

The Duke of York (pictured in April after the death of his father, Prince Philip) has come under intense scrutiny for his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein, and has been accused of sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre at Epstein's New York home two decades ago

'There is no way in the world he's ever coming back, the family will never let it happen,' a royal source said, according to The Sunday Times. 'William is no fan of Uncle Andrew,' another source, a friend of William's, is reported to have said.

A third source was quoted saying that Prince William is 'triggered' by his uncle's perceived 'ungracious and ungrateful' attitude towards his position, which Williams considers 'a risk' and a 'threat to the family.'

'Any suggestion that there isn't gratitude for the institution, anything that could lead anyone in the public to think that senior members of the royal family aren't grateful for their position, [William thinks] is really dangerous,' the Sunday Times quoted the source as saying.   

MailOnline was told that Buckingham Palace was not commenting on the matter. 

Speaking to the The Sun, a source said: 'Nine months ago Charles, Anne and Edward had a meeting, a summit, and agreed there was no way back for him.'

It has been reported that Andrew's siblings - Prince Charles (pictured on Tuesday in Scotland), Princess Anne and Prince Edward - also ruled out his return to public duty

It has been reported that Andrew's siblings - Prince Charles (pictured on Tuesday in Scotland), Princess Anne and Prince Edward - also ruled out his return to public duty

Princess Anne, pictured on Monday

The Queen and Prince Edward picture together on Thursday

Speaking the The Sun , a source said: 'Nine months ago Charles, Anne (pictured left) and Edward (pictured with The Queen, right) had a meeting, a summit, and agreed there was no way back for him'

Virginia Roberts, who now goes by her married name of Giuffre, was last night reported to have been interviewed by officers after she filed a civil lawsuit in the US claiming that she was forced to have sex with the Prince on three separate occasions by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this year that Ms Giuffre had launched legal action in the US. Andrew, 61, has always vehemently denied her claims and any wrongdoing.

According to The Sunday Times, detectives recently quizzed Ms Giuffre after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick warned that ‘no one is above the law’. The move could pave the way for a criminal investigation into the claims.

Ms Giuffre claims she was ‘trafficked’ to the duke in March 2001 after being flown to London by Epstein and his alleged ‘madam’ Ghislaine Maxwell. 

A photograph of Andrew, Ms Giuffre and Ms Maxwell, taken in the socialite’s mews house that night, was first published by The Mail on Sunday.

During his infamous interview with the BBC’s Newsnight in 2019, Andrew denied the claims, saying that he had been at a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking, Surrey, that day.

His lawyers accepted that the Prince had been ‘served’ with the civil suit on September 21, after Ms Giuffre’s team spent weeks trying to deliver it to him.

Last night, a Met spokesman said: ‘We would not discuss who we may or may not have spoken to as part of any enquiry.’

The development could lead to the Met opening a criminal investigation of Ms Giuffre’s claims that have been consistently and strenuously denied by the Duke.

The reports comes two days after it was announced that Andrew's legal team will be allowed to review a previously secret settlement which his lawyers hope will shield him from a sex abuse lawsuit in the US.

A US District Judge on Wednesday granted permission for the Duke of York's lawyers to receive a copy of a confidential agreement between Epstein and Ms Giuffre. 

Ms Giuffre (pictured) is launching a US civil case against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexually abusing a woman two decades ago, when she was underage

Ms Giuffre (pictured) is launching a US civil case against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexually abusing a woman two decades ago, when she was underage

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