Royal family has 'no plans to review' Prince Andrew's departure from public life

Six months on from Prince Andrew's withdrawal from public life, the royal family reportedly has "no plans to review" his position.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, the Duke of York, 60, will not resume his duties as a member of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth's second-oldest son has been widely condemned over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell last August.

In November, Andrew spoke about Epstein to BBC's Newsnight, addressing for the first time accusations he had sex with Virginia Roberts Giuffre — a victim of the financier's sex trafficking ring who was 17 at the time of the alleged encounters.

The interview was deemed a 'train wreck', drawing widespread criticism and prompting initiatives and charities associated with the prince to sever their ties.

READ MORE: Andrew's involvement in the Epstein scandal explained

Within a week of the Newsnight episode airing, a palace statement confirmed Andrew would be stepping back from royal duties "for the foreseeable future".

According to Telegraph reporter Roya Nikkah, the Duke had hoped the situation would be temporary, but the Queen is "resigned" to his "permanent removal from public life".

However, Buckingham Palace told Nikkah "nothing had changed" since the original statement was released in November.

Andrew's departure from royal life came two months before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step back as senior working royals.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the prince has been self-isolating with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York at their Windsor home, Royal Lodge.

The former couple has been joined at home by their youngest daughter Princess Eugenie and son-in-law Jack Brooksbank throughout the UK's lockdown period.