Prince Andrew is seen smiling and laughing during ride around Windsor

Prince Andrew smiled and laughed today as he went out riding on a warm spring morning at Windsor Great Park.

The Duke of York, who was accompanied by two grooms, has generally been staying away from the public eye after being forced by the Queen to give up all his royal duties in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

The 62-year-old has stepped down from public life and was also not present at Westminster Abbey last week for the Commonwealth Service which was attended by senior royals including Charles, Camilla, William and Kate.

It comes two weeks after Andrew was confirmed to have paid up to £12million to his US sex accuser Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre – bringing the civil case against him in New York almost to a close. 

The Duke of York, pictured at Windsor Great Park this morning, has generally been staying away from the public eye

‘Stipulation of Dismissal’ documents were filed with a court on March 8, with lawyers on both sides calling for the legal action to be dismissed, indicating the settlement has been paid.

As the order was published, the Treasury confirmed no taxpayer funds were used for either the payment to Virginia Roberts or for the Duke of York’s legal fees.

A freedom of information request asked whether any money from the Sovereign Grant to the Royal Family or any other government money was used. The Treasury insisted: ‘No public money has been used to pay legal or settlement fees.’ The joint order filed with the New York court said each party would pay their own costs and fees.

When Judge Lewis Kaplan signs the order, the civil case will formally come to an end. Andrew has faced repeated calls to confirm how he funded the settlement – and whether the Queen or even Prince Charles contributed. 

Reports have suggested they both may have helped Andrew pay or loaned him the money until the sale goes through of a £17million Swiss ski chalet he owns with ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. 

The 62-year-old royal was pictured going for a ride in Windsor this morning after being forced to give up all his royal duties

Prince Andrew is accompanied by two grooms while going for a ride at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire this morning

Mrs Giuffre had sued Andrew for alleged sexual abuse. She claimed he had sex with her when she was 17 after he was trafficked by his friend, the late billionaire paedophile Epstein.

The duke will make a ‘substantial donation’ to a charity for sex abuse victims set up by Mrs Giuffre, now a 38-year-old mother-of-three. He said he now regrets his association with Epstein.

Andrew, who was forced to step down from royal duties and public life as a result of the scandal, previously claimed he had no recollection of meeting Mrs Giuffre and has always strongly denied her allegations.

But he agreed to the settlement last month. The prince has been staying away from the public eye but has also been spotted in recent weeks driving his Range Rover in Windsor while wearing white Apple airpods.