Prince Andrew has said he will treasure his mother’s compassion, care and confidence ‘forever’ in a tribute to the Queen, released on Sunday.
The Duke of York said: “Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I will treasure forever”.
The death of Queen Elizabeth has thrust the King’s younger brother back into the spotlight after months away from the public glare.
His friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has come under intense scrutiny in recent years and his decision to invite Newsnight to interview him ended in disaster.
In February the dad-of-two paid out £12m to Virginia Giuffre, who had alleged Andrew had sex with her when she was a teenager.
Prince Andrew has always denied wrongdoing. He agreed, in the wake of the Newsnight interview, to step back from his royal duties.
In a tribute today the duke said: “Dear Mummy, Mother, Your Majesty, three in one.
“Your Majesty, it has been an honour and privilege to serve you. Mother - of the nation, your devotion and personal service to our nation is unique and singular; your people show their love and respect in so many different ways and I know you are looking on honouring their respect.
“Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I will treasure forever. I have found your knowledge and wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment.
“I will miss your insights, advice and humour.
“As our book of experiences closes, another opens, and I will forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love and gratitude, and I will tread gladly into the next with you as my guide.”
As he walked behind the Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh on Friday he was heckled by a member of the public who called him a ‘dirty old man’. The heckler was arrested and later charged.
The duke is yet to co-operate with an FBI investigation into Epstein and their mutual friend Ghislaine Maxwell, who has also been convicted of child sex trafficking offences.
