Embattled Prince Andrew was seen Thursday for the first time since the “monumental” decision to end his royal duties over the fallout from his ties to ex-chum pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York, 59, smiled and waved as he drove away from his home in Windsor — but looked “downtrodden” when he arrived at Buckingham Palace for an expected meeting with his mom, Queen Elizabeth II, according to the Sun. His staff had brought out cookies and hot drinks for waiting press.
It was the first time the royal had been seen since announcing Wednesday that he was ending public duties for the “foreseeable future” — with reports saying he was actually fired by the Queen.
His downfall, sparked by his disastrous interview with the BBC about his ties to Epstein, was called “monumental” by royal biographer Robert Lacey, according to the Times of London.
“Nothing like this has happened in the Queen’s long reign,” Lacey said.