Prince Andrew could ‘lose 24-hour armed security’ and bodyguards as he is ‘not working royal’

PRINCE Andrew could lose his 24-hour armed security and bodyguards as he is “not working royal,” it has been claimed.

It comes after the Duke of York was stripped of his royal title and all military honours last week, amid his sex-assault lawsuit.

The Duke is also no longer be able to use ‘His Royal Highness’ – and will face his US lawsuit as a “private citizen” meaning he can’t hide behind royal privileges. 

Andrew was set to lose all three protection officers in June 2020 following a Home Office cost-cutting review – but clung onto them after the Queen intervened.

His minders are each thought to cost £100,000 a year in wages, flights, perks and hotels.

But now sources have told MailOnline that a full review of Andrew’s security is underway by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.

A source said: “Although no-one will comment on it publicly, this is an issue that is now actively being discussed by the Met’s Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

“The situation [as regards Harry] is awkward and may prompt a decision sooner rather than later. If Harry, who is no longer a working royal, does not get security in the UK, then why should Andrew?”

It comes as Prince Harry has launched legal action against the Government over the decision to take away his police bodyguards.

Harry wants to bring his son Archie and baby daughter Lilibet to visit from the US, but he and his family are “unable to return to his home” because it is too dangerous, a legal representative said.

He’s offered to pay the bill himself – but was denied by the Government.

As a senior royal, Andrew has round-the-clock Scotland Yard protection.

His daughters Beatrice and Eugenie received official protection until 2011 but now foot the bill themselves.

Dai Davies a former head of royal security at Scotland Yard told the outlet: “It is a big step, although the likely risk is small, and there would be strong arguments to be made that he does not require ‘PPO’ [personal protection officer] status if he is no longer a working royal.”

Earlier this month, Andrew learned that a civil sex abuse case against him from accuser Virginia Giuffre will go ahead, despite his attempts to have it thrown out.

Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell as a teenager, claims she had sex with Andrew three times while underage and has vowed to “destroy him”.

The Duke vehemently denies any wrongdoing.