Prince Andrew has been dropped by almost 50 organisations amid questions over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports.
Groups such as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, and the Children’s Foundation have all dropped the Duke of York as a patron, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
It comes as questions continue to rage over his relationship to American financier Epstein, who was convicted of sex offences against children before his death in 2019.
Prince Andrew, who it is alleged had sex with then 17-year-old Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, denies any wrongdoing.
But after a disastrous interview with Newsnight in which his association with Epstein was scrutinised, Prince Andrew, 61, announced he would step back from his role as a front line royal.
But now, according to the Telegraph, 47 charities have decided to pull back from their association with the Duke – who it is believed still hopes to one day return to public royal duties.
Prince Andrew has been dropped by almost 50 organisations amid questions over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports
Groups such as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, and the Children’s Foundation have all dropped the Duke of York as a patron, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Pictured: Prince Andrew at the English National Ballet’s summer party in 2011
It comes as questions continue to rage over his relationship to American financier Epstein, who was convicted of sex offences against children before his death in 2019. Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse in London in 2001
Some of the charities and organisations publicly announced their decision, while others are said to have ‘quietly’ removed Prince Andrew from their list of patrons.
Those who have removed the Duke as patron include, the Berkshire County Cricket Club, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions and the Society for Nautical Research.
The Whitgift School in Croydon is also reported to have severed ties, as has the Golf Foundation.
Three, the British Science Association, the Council of British International Schools and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, told the Telegraph they had contacted Buckingham Palace hoping to find a new royal patron.
Others said they had replaced the Duke as their patron and replaced him with Prince Charles.
These include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the York Minster Fund.
Some said they had maintained ties with the Duke, though he was no longer allowed to carry out work on their behalf.
According to the Telegraph, these include, the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the Friends of the Staffordshire Regiment, Morayvia Aerospace Centre and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
Others are said to have ‘quietly’ removed Prince Andrew’s name from their website, with one charity reportedly hiding a plaque with his name on it behind a plant pot.
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
It came as the Prince was yesterday riding his horse in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The Duke of York, 61, who sported a black jacket and a riding hat, appeared relaxed as he enjoyed a horse ride at his mother’s home along with his two grooms.
The royal was later spotted driving away from the castle grounds in his personalised Range Rover.
Earlier in the day, the royal’s daughter Princess Beatrice and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were also seen driving away from Windsor Castle following a visit.
Prince Andrew sported a black coat and a riding hat as he enjoyed a horse ride ride at Windsor Castle
The royal was later spotted driving away from the castle grounds in his personalised Range Rover
The family was thrown into turmoil again this week amid Prince Harry’s comments in a podcast released on Thursday in which he appeared to suggest both his father and the Queen failed as parents.
He dramatically claimed he had no choice but to leave in order to ‘break the cycle’ of ‘genetic pain and suffering’ for the sake of his own children.
He also described his life as a royal as a cross between the movie The Truman Show – in which a man discovers he is living in a reality tv programme – and a zoo.
Last month it was reported Andrew gifted his mother two puppies to help her cope when her late husband was in hospital.
Her Majesty was given the dogs in February to keep her company in Windsor while the Duke of Edinburgh was recovering from heart surgery.
The reports came as royal experts predicted the Duke of York was ‘trying to rehabilitate himself’ and get back into the royal fold – despite his brother Prince Charles pushing plans for a slimmed-down monarchy.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that Andrew would ‘obviously like to be rehabilitated’, but must first answer FBI questions on his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
The scenes came as the royal’s daughter Princess Beatrice and his former wife Sarah Ferguson were seen driving away from Windsor Castle
Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November 2019 following a disastrous interview with Newsnight and scrutiny over his friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
However his latest appearance comes after it was suggested Prince Charles is planning to slim down the monarchy in the wake of his father’s death and after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to trade in royal life for LA.
Last month, the Duke of York sat next to the Queen at his father’s funeral before leaving in his new £220,000 Bentley.
On April 11, he also spoke to television cameras outside the Royal Chapel of All Saints at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, two days after his father’s death.
That appearance, where he paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, was the first time he had directly addressed cameras since his car crash interview about his friendship with Epstein.