Prince Andrew has stepped back from public duties following the backlash to his BBC interview
Prince Andrew has stepped back from public duties following the backlash to his BBC interview AFP / JOHN THYS

KEY POINTS

  • Prince Andrew controversies
  • Prince Andrew in Thailand
  • Prince Andrew Epstein scandal

Prince Andrew was photographed horse riding after his controversial pictures have resurfaced.

On Saturday, the Duke of York was spotted out in Windsor horse riding. He was accompanied by two other riders on the said sighting, Daily Mail reported.

The publication noted that the sighting happened after Prince Andrew’s photos in Thailand emerged. Sarah Ferguson’s ex-husband visited the island of Phuket for a Christmas trip in 2001. Several photographs showed that he was in a yacht surrounded by topless women during his vacation.

The trip was reportedly organized by Johan Eliasch, a Monaco-based tycoon behind the top sports brand Head. The billionaire reportedly agreed to foot Prince Andrew’s stay at the Amanpuri Hotel. However, the provenance of the yacht remains unknown.

Some photos showed Prince Andrew being massaged with sun-cream by skinny young women. There were speculations that at aged 40, after he left Navy, the royal father of two was suffering from mid-life crisis.

Prince Andrew’s friends Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were also reported to be in Phuket at the time.

A few weeks back, Prince Andrew addressed the Epstein scandal in his controversial Newsnight interview. The royal denied the allegations that he had sex with a teenager. However, his interview only backfired because many believed that it would have been better if he didn’t speak about the issue at all.

Shortly after his interview, Prince Andrew announced that he was stepping back from his royal duties. According to an insider, the Duke of York may never return to public life again.

“Prince Andrew has been given the worst-case scenario for him and his involvement with the family – that he may never be able to return to the front line of duty,” a royal source told The Sun.

“The Duke of York suggested he will take a back step from public life for the foreseeable future but the reality is he has been told it could be for a very, very long time, potentially for ever.”

Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were reportedly upset about their father’s issues. The two royal princesses were convinced that their father made a “huge mistake in judgment.”