PRINCE Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk has agreed to quit following his disastrous Newsnight interview.

It's understood Ms Thirsk, who was employed by the Royal Household for 15 years, received a payout worth tens of thousands of pounds.

4 Amanda Thirsk was hired as Andrew's private secretary in 2012 Credit: Getty - Contributor

4 Since she was appointed as private secretary in 2012, Ms Thirsk was a regular presence at Prince Andrew's side Credit: Press Association

4 Andrew failed to show any sympathy for the victims of Epstein in his disastrous Newsnight interview Credit: PA:Press Association

Sky News reported that Ms Thirsk is preparing to sign a separate contract that will see her continue as chief executive of Pitch@Palace Global Limited, the privately owned international arm of Andrew's project to back entrepreneurs.

Her exit comes after the duke's car crash interview with the BBC, where he said he did not regret his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Ms Thirsk was behind the prince's disastrous Newsnight interview in November.

In the interview, Andrew failed to express any sympathy for the victims of Epstein, who was found hanged in jail in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The Duke was also ridiculed over his repeated denials of any sexual relationship with then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.

He claimed he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking on the night he is accused of sleeping with Roberts, a "sex slave" of Epstein.

Ms Thirsk, 54, has been fiercely loyal to the Duke for 15 years and headed his all-woman inner circle of advisers and aides dubbed "Andy's Angels".

The mum-of-three was hired in 2004 as his "office controller" and became his private secretary in 2012.

She played a major role in shaping his work after he was forced to step down as the UK trade envoy in 2011.

A palace spokesman said it "would never comment on individuals".