Saturday 12 November 2022 01:26 AM Prince Andrew was 'promised by lawyers the fallout from his sex abuse lawsuit ... trends now
Prince Andrew's misguided belief he would one day return to public life was instilled in him by close advisers who assured the fallout of his sex abuse lawsuit would 'all blow over' in due time.
He was brought back down earth during a one-on-one meeting with his brother, the then Prince of Wales, in the days before the Queen's death on September 8.
The Duke of York was left 'bereft' and 'tearful' when Charles told him, in no uncertain terms, that his days as a working royal were over.
At the time, a source told the Mail on Sunday 'Andrew was totally blindsided' and 'utterly bereft. He always believed there was a way back'.
Now, a new report by The Times alleges Andrew's closest advisers and confidantes had instilled that belief in him.
A source said advisers vowed to 'get him back to work' and repeatedly provided optimistic briefings about his sex abuse lawsuit and links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York was left 'bereft' and 'tearful' when Charles told him, in no uncertain terms, that his days as a working royal were over
'Andrew was extremely close to the Queen and tried to raise the issue of his return to public life many times with her,' a source told the Mail on Sunday
Andrew has denied being close to Epstein, who killed himself in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.
Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving 20 years in a Florida jail after being found guilty last December on child sex trafficking and other charges.
And it appears some within his circle still believe a reputation rehab is possible - particularly after his accuser Virginia Giuffre 'extraordinarily' backed down on her sexual abuse claim against lawyer Alan Dershowitz.
Paul Tweed, a media and libel lawyer who has known the Duke for many years, told The Telegraph: 'I wouldn't slam all doors just yet.
'The battle has moved from the court of law to the court of public opinion but I don't think anything is insurmountable.'
Ms Giuffre's admission that she 'may have made a mistake' about Mr Dershowitz prompted some to question whether there was any possibility she could
