PRINCE Andrew was blindsided when told he could not return to public life after hoping his scandal would “blow over”, it is claimed.
The Duke of York was left “utterly bereft” when told by his brother, then Prince Charles, he would not be welcomed back to royal duties.
Prince Andrew was left ‘blindsided’ following the tense chat with his brother
But it has now been reported Andrew was left so “blindsided” by the meeting because his closest advisors had been reassuring they would find a way for him to return.
A source told The Times aides had vowed to “get him back to work” despite his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Even the Queen failed to make it clear his role as a working royal was truly over following his alleged sex shame, the newspaper reports.
His misguided belief continued after he paid a multi-million pound sum to Virginia Giuffre, who claimed he had sex with her when she was 17.
ROYAL SPLIT
This is when Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorce
Andrew vehemently denied the allegations but was still stripped of his patronages and beloved military affiliations.
He is now said to be in “bad shape” and at a loss over how to spend his life.
The royal is often pictured riding alone in Windsor where he lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Andrew is also understood to see his grandchildren and enjoys watching the cricket and golf.
It emerged last week that he broke down in tears when Charles told him he would never return to royal duties.
A source told the Mail on Sunday the discussions were “emotional and fraught”.
They added: “Andrew was totally blindsided. He is utterly bereft. He always believed there was a way back.
“Naïve as it may sound, he always had hopes of regaining his position as a senior royal.
“At the meeting Charles told him that he can go off and have a good life, a nice life, but that his public life as a Royal is at an end.
“He was told: ‘You have to accept this’.”
Andrew is often pictured riding his horse in Windsor
He had hoped to return to royal life after settling with Virginia
Andrew was stripped of all patronages and military affiliations
