"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.

"Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."

The Duke added: "I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.

"I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives.

"Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."

gae

An unprecedented announcement from Buckingham Palace as Prince Andrew says he is stepping down from royal duties for the foreseeable future. A decision that must have been monumentally difficult for the Queen to receive and approve this afternoon from her second and according to many her favourite son. The Duke of York had been having ongoing discussions about the fallout from his TV interview with senior members of his family – including The Queen and the Prince of Wales. This afternoon, at Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew met the Queen and they discussed how the issue was not going away. His older brother Prince Charles was also consulted, even though he is on a Royal Tour in New Zealand. It was agreed that Prince Andrew should step back from his royal duties until there has been some form of conclusion in the Epstein case. It means that he will not return until either the victims have got the answers they are looking for or until the Duke himself has been exonerated in some way and cleared of any wrong doing. As for his charities and patronages, he will effectively put them on hold. As for his projects, like Pitch at Palace, which helps entrepreneurs connect with investors, the Palace is now working on how they can keep those schemes going without his personal involvement. He will not be paid from the publicly funded Sovereign Grant – the money raised as a proportion of the profits from the Crown Estate. The explanation from the Palace is that the Duke will not be carrying out any public duties. Prince Andrew will therefore fund himself from his private income, and the income he receives from the Privy Purse (the Queen’s private income). It is unclear what is happening to his office and to his Private Secretary, Amanda Thirsk, who worked so closely with the Prince. It is possible that she will not continue with her Royal Household employment, but the Duke may chose to employ her privately. However, it does seem likely that we will not see the Duke of York in public for some considerable time. There is of course the possibility of him returning to duties. Lots of questions about what this will mean re. his daughter Princess Beatrice’s upcoming wedding.

Lawyers for Epstein's victims called for Andrew to sit down with FBI agents and give an in-depth interview under oath 'without delay' with calls for Americans to head to London to speak to him if he refuses;
More than 20 major companies and charities – including Barclays, KPMG and the English National Ballet – distanced themselves from Andrew and the initiatives he has been backing;
Major questions emerge over his alibis over a trip to New York during which Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Roberts claims they had sex after diplomat denies the royal stayed with him and an aide claiming Andrew was free and unaccompanied on his first afternoon of the 2001 visit;
A letter from Buckingham Palace casts doubt on the Duke of York's claims about when he first met the tycoon, who killed himself in jail in August;