Whether Prince Andrew is found liable or not in his upcoming sexual abuse trial, he’s already lost everything he holds dear. Andrew has denied all allegations against him and is defending his case.
But, following recent crisis talks between his mother, the Queen, and older brother, Prince Charles, the Duke of York was stripped of his HRH title, his royal patronages and his military associations.
Watch: Virginia Roberts Speaks Out About Involvement With Prince Andrew
It comes ahead of his New York civil trial later this year, where he stands accused of emotional distress and battery.
Now, his loyal ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, fears she could be next to go.
Fergie, 62, has been living at the Royal Lodge, Andrew’s Windsor home, since 2006 – despite divorcing in 1996.
“Fergie is starting to panic that her head is on the chopping block,” says a source. “The Queen likes Sarah and has always turned a blind eye to her unorthodox living arrangement with Andrew.
“But when Charles is the head honcho, and with Andrew in his crosshairs, Fergie worries she won’t be able to fly under the radar anymore.”
It’s been widely reported that permanently culling Andrew, 61, from the royal family’s public members was decided by Charles, 73, and his son, Prince William. Together, they approached Her Majesty over Christmas.
The Sun reports Charles felt Andrew had “run out of road” after weathering accusations of sleeping with a 17-year-old procured by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in London and New York.
While Andrew is so far allowed to keep his dukedom, sources say Fergie fears Charles will bring the axe down on her Duchess of York title. But royal author Penny Junor believes she’ll be fine.
“I can’t see that, no matter what happens,” she tells New Idea. “It would make no sense and would be deeply unfair. It can’t be easy for her.”
Still, we’re told that Fergie is planning on personally facing Charles to plead her case of staying within the royal fold.
“She’s worked hard to get back in the family’s good graces and she wants to stay there,” says a source. “If rumours of kicking her out get any stronger, she’ll have no shame in pleading her case directly to Charles.”
But for Andrew, who’s believed to have broken down in his mother’s presence during a meeting at Windsor Castle, there’s no turning back.
“He basically cried and begged for mercy, but the decision was made,” says an insider.
“The Queen was a little emotional herself, especially when she spoke to him about what his father [the late Prince Philip] would have said and done if he were alive to see this. It’s a sorry state of affairs.”
Read more in this week’s New Idea, on sale now.