Only a single fan turned up to welcome the Duke of York to an Australian university amid the ongoing furore over his years-long close relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

And that sole well-wisher acknowledged her Prince's reputation had been damaged by association with Epstein.

Royal experts have speculated it is possible the Duke's antipodean trip has been deliberately kept low-key as the scandal rumbles on.

The friendship between Andrew, 59, and the the billionaire financier, who was found hanged in his cell in August after being charged with child-trafficking offences, has come under intense scrutiny.

Prince Andrew cut a lonely figure during his 'Pitch@Palace' promotional trip to Perth

One of Epstein's alleged victims Virginia Roberts Giuffre has alleged she was recruited as a 'sex slave' and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew in London.

He has strongly denied any 'sexual contact or relationship' with her or any 'impropriety with underage minors'.

Prince Andrew visited Epstein on Epstein's atoll in the US Virgin Islands several times, dubbed Paedophile Island because of the stream of young women arriving.

He also visited the financier's £60million Manhattan house in December 2010, shortly after Epstein had been released from an 18-month sentence for child prostitution offences.

Epstein stayed at Epstein's Manhattan home after the paedophile's release from jail after cutting a plea deal for child prostitution offences

One of Epstein's alleged victims Virginia Roberts Giuffre, pictured here with Andrew, has alleged she was recruited as a 'sex slave' and forced to have sex with him in London. He denies any 'sexual contact or relationship' with her or any 'impropriety with underage minors'

On Wednesday in Perth the sole onlooker arriving to cheer the Duke's visit to Murdoch University was Renae Grljusich-Poolman, a teacher and Royal hunter.

The Prince waved during his visit but there was only one well-wisher there

She told The Australian she was not surprised by the turnout. 'It is disappointing. It has marred his credibility,' she said.

Meanwhile the challenge faced by Andrew in restoring his role promoting pet causes was highlighted in an analysis of his Australia trip by Daniela Elser, a former Marie Claire executive who described the low turnout in Perth as 'a new, deeply embarrassing low point'.

Elser wrote: 'On Monday night, Andrew slipped into the country, landing in Perth.

'There was no fanfare. No lead-up press coverage.

'It was an extraordinarily subdued and unusual arrival that looked a lot like he was trying to steal into the country without attracting media attention.'

Andrew was in Australia to promote a 'boot camp' for his entrepreneurs' initiative Pitch@Palace.