Prince Andrew recently engaged in “intense talks” with Queen Elizabeth II about his future, The Sun on Sunday reported.
The disgraced Duke of York, 62, spent several days alone with his mother as she started her summer break at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
Afterwards, they were joined in Scotland by the duke’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and their families; Prince Edward, his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and their two children; and Prince Charles and Camilla.
“He is a 62-year-old man and knows that he can’t spend the rest of his days sitting around at Royal Lodge in Windsor, walking his dogs and riding horses. He’s thinking about what he can do. He has had discussions with the Queen about what he can do with his life. But there are also wider family discussions,” an insider was cited as saying.
Desperate for a ‘Route Back’
The Queen's second son has been keeping a low profile since striking a multi-million out-of-court settlement with his sexual assault accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, in February.
Prince Andrew, who never admitted his guilt and has consistently denied all allegations against him, was stripped of his patronages and HRH title amid the fall-out from the scandal. He has since been making unsuccessful attempts to win back his place in the royal fold.
Earlier in summer, the Duke of York was banned from the Order of the Garter ceremony on 13 June after Charles, Prince of Wales, and Prince William lobbied the Queen, The Sun cited sources as saying.
Although Prince Andrew is well aware that he has “let his mother down badly”, he has not been convicted of a crime, a royal source pointed out to the outlet.
“He wants to try to establish a route back. He’s hoping the Queen can influence Prince Charles and Prince William, who see no way back for him. He wanted a few days alone with his mother to talk about his future,” added the insider.