It was business as usual for the Queen today as she took to her horse for a morning ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle – a day after her son Prince Andrew allegedly told her his ‘car crash’ TV interview was ‘a great success’.
The Duke of York attempted to ‘set the record straight’ by speaking about the sex allegations against him during a sit-down BBC interview with Emily Maitlis at Buckingham Palace.
Earlier today we reported how Maitlis claimed the Queen gave her blessing for Prince Andrew to take part in the discussion about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, during which he denied ever having sex with Epstein’s ‘sex slave’ Virginia Roberts.
Despite many calling his performance a ‘PR disaster’, the prince is thought to have spoken to the Queen at a church service on Sunday, describing the interview as a ‘great success’.
The Queen cut a sombre figure as she took to her horse for a morning ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle today – days after her son Prince Andrew’s ‘car crash’ TV interview
This morning the monarch, 93, was spotted on horseback in a dark trench and floral headscarf, accompanied by Head Groom Terry Pendry.
Making the most of the dry weather, the Queen – sporting brown boots – trotted around the leafy grounds with Terry, who wore a traditional uniform for the outing.
The Queen is a seasoned equestrian and has a passion for the races, having earned a staggering £7,768,448 in winnings from her horses over the last 31 years.
Her Majesty has won 534 races from 3,205 runs over her career as a racehorse owner, across both the flat and jump races in the UK and Ireland.
This morning the monarch, 93, was spotted on horseback in a dark trench and floral head scarf, accompanied by Head Groom Terry Pendry
The Royal Family are well-known for their love of horses and the Queen has demonstrated her own passion for it, securing her first win as an owner when Choir Boy won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1953.
The most profitable year came in 2016, a record year in terms of winnings, with her horses earning £560,274 across the flat and jump seasons dating back to 1988, when records began, with Carlton House her top-earning horse across this period with £772,815 in winnings.
Yesterday the Queen appeared stoic during her weekly drive to worship, donning a blue straw hat with feather details and a patterned pale green and blue jacquard jacket with a button-down feature and brooch as she rode alone in the back passenger seat of the royal car.
The Queen struck an elegant ensemble as she headed The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Windsor Great Park in a turquoise ensemble yesterday. It is claimed that Prince Andrew joined her at the service and assured her that his BBC interview was a great success
She looked straight ahead and, showing her penchant for pearls, completed the look with a pearl drop earring, which perfectly complemented her patterned jacket.
Maitlis, whose interview with Andrew was screened on Saturday, revealed that it was the monarch herself who gave the final go-ahead for a TV interview following a year of negotiations with the BBC.
The Duke, 59, faced a flurry of questions about his links to the paedophile, who was found dead aged 66 earlier this year in a New York prison cell while being held on sex trafficking charges.
Prince Andrew, pictured during his interview with Emily Maitlis, is thought to have told the Queen that the broadcast was a success – despite near universal horror at his appearance
He completely refuted any wrongdoing in the chat but he was widely condemned for showing a lack of remorse over his friendship with Epstein.
Writing in The Times, Maitlis recalled: ‘We have finished laying out our pitch. An awkward moment of silence falls. And the duke tells us he must ‘seek approval from higher up’.
‘It dawns on us then that he means the Queen herself. At 8am the next day we have a message telling us to call his office. The Queen, it seems, is on board.’
Her Majesty donned a blue straw hat with feather details and a patterned pale green and blue jacket with a button down feature and broach as she rode alone in the backseat of the car
A source close to Prince Andrew later claimed he would not ‘do anything without discussing it with Her Majesty first’, while a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said ‘the Queen is aware of the interview’.
Veteran royal reporter Jennie Bond told ITV’s Lorraine that Prince Andrew came across as ‘extremely undignified’ in his interview, ‘displayed such appalling judgement’ and that it was a ‘glaring omission’ not to discuss the victims.
It comes as a lawyer for three of Epstein’s victims said the interview could increase interest in Andrew’s relationship with Epstein, while other senior lawyers suggested that the Duke of York was not immune from prosecution or even extradition to the US to face allegations that he had sex with an underage girl.
Prince Andrew told friends he ‘regretted’ not ex-pressing sympathy for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims in his disastrous TV interview. The Duke of York insisted he had ‘great sympathy’ for anyone abused by his late paedophile friend, and had been in the dark about the ‘extent of his wrongdoing’
The prince has always rejected the claim by Epstein’s most high-profile victim, Virginia Roberts – now Virginia Giuffre (pictured) – that he had sex with her three times, twice when she was just 17 and once around her 18th birthday
Though there was no sign of Andrew as the Queen travelled to church yesterday, sources reported that the Duke of York made his way into the service to speak to his mother.
A friend told the Sun: ‘The Duke went to church with the Queen and was heard telling her it’s all been a great success.
‘He thinks he’s done the right thing and has put the criticism to rest.’
The source added that Andrew has walked to the church and had ‘prayed’ with the monarch.
Always one to look prim and proper, the Queen sported an immaculate make-up look, pairing a deep red lipstick with light foundation while keeping her hair in signature curls
Showing her penchant for pearls, the Queen completed the look with a pearl drop earring, which perfectly complemented her patterned jacket
Meanwhile, a source told The Times that Amanda Thirsk, Andrew’s private secretary thought the Duke’s interview was ‘incredibly raw’.
Ms Thirsk is believed to be the person who persuaded Andrew to go ahead with the interview.
The source added: ‘She thinks people will appreciate that he was open and honest, and answered every question.
At least it is all out there for people to judge. The sniping and the commentary can now stop.’
However, the interview could instead lead to even more legal scrutiny on the Duke.
Spencer Kuvin, a lawyer in the US who acted for three of Epstein’s victims, said that no one fears Andrew.
He added that the interview could just strengthen the resolve of Epstein’s victims against the Duke.
And senior lawyers have revealed that Andrew is not immune from prosecution or extradition to the US.
Anna Rothwell, a lawyer at Corker Binning, a leading criminal law firm in London, told the Times that Andrew was ‘vulnerable to extradition’ and his decision to give an interview was ‘unwise’.
She said: ‘He is not entitled to any form of immunity by virtue of his position as a member of the royal family.’
Dai Davies, the former royal protection officer, told the Mirror that Andrew displayed ‘classic signs’ of someone not telling the truth in the interview.
He also called for a police investigation into the royal’s friendship with Epstein.