A parody Twitter account generated some buzz Wednesday when it “reported” that Prince Andrew had announced his retirement from public life after “a long period of severe personal stress.”

There might be some truth to the faux report: The Duke of York certainly appears to be undergoing some “personal stress.” Actually, the tabloid The Sun reported that he is “panicked” over the renewed scrutiny of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after the financier and registered sex offender was found dead over the weekend in his Manhattan jail cell.

Epstein was awaiting trial on new sex trafficking charges and possibly creating worry among some of his rich and powerful friends over whether any of their embarrassing secrets might come to light during the trial.

But Sarah Ferguson has come to the rescue of her reportedly distressed ex-husband, The Daily Mail added. The Duchess of York on Wednesday whisked Andrew off on a vacation to a luxury resort in Spain, where they are expected to enjoy complete privacy and the finest amenities in a $48 million private villa.

“The Duchess insisted she go on holiday with the Duke to look after him and show the world she stands by him,” a royal insider told The Sun.

'The Duke has been fairly relaxed up to now, he’s starting to s*** himself' https://t.co/Ywt8APhcTP — The Sun (@TheSun) August 15, 2019

The Spanish holiday also comes amid reports that Andrew and Sarah, both 59, have rekindled their romance. The couple divorced in 1996 and stayed on friendly terms as they raised their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Indeed, Andrew, Sarah and their daughters reportedly were at Balmoral Castle, Queen Elizabeth’s estate in the Scottish Highlands, when news came that Epstein had died.

Initial reports said Epstein died by hanging in an apparent suicide, but broken bones found in Epstein’s neck during an autopsy have “deepened the mystery about the circumstances around his death,” the Washington Post reported. Such breaks can occur in those who hang themselves, but they also are common in victims of homicide by strangulation, forensic experts told the Post.

Epstein’s death has rocked the halls of power on both sides of the Atlantic with renewed scrutiny focused on his one-time friendships with a number of powerful men, including Andrew, President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton.

Andrew has been accused by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s alleged “sex slaves,” of having sex with her three times in the early 2000s when she was 17. Giuffre alleged in a 2011 Daily Mail interview and in a lawsuit that Epstein and his socialite friend Ghislaine Maxwell directed her to have sex with Andrew in London, and at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan and his private island in the Caribbean.

Andrew’s friendship with Epstein first created a furor in the media and in the House of Commons when Giuffre’s allegations were publicized in 2011.

About that time, Andrew also was photographed walking with Epstein in New York’s Central Park, after Epstein recently completed a 13-month jail sentence for solicitation of a minor. The financier benefited from a controversial and lenient plea deal after being investigated on charges of recruiting Giuffre and dozens of other underage girls to become his “sex slaves” and to provide sexual services to himself and to his powerful friends.

Ferguson also was swept up in the Epstein furor that year. She was forced to publicly apologize for allowing Andrew to receive more than $18,000 from Epstein to help her settle a debt to a former assistant.

But she was Andrew’s partner in scandal in other ways: She was caught on tape demanding $821,000 from an undercover reporter disguised as a businessman in return for access to Andrew, Vanity Fair reported.

The furor over Andrew’s Epstein ties in 2011 prompted the duke to step down from his beloved and prominent job as U.K.’s special representative for international trade and investment.

In recent years, the royal family had attempted to rehabilitate Andrew’s image and bring him back into the inner circle of “Team Windsor,” the Daily Mail reported in 2017.

But Andrew found his reputation back in question this summer after Epstein was arrested July 7 on new sex trafficking charges.

Queen Elizabeth appeared to show support for Andrew on Sunday by being photographed wearing a big grin while riding with him in a car to church services near Balmoral.

Prince Charles, though, may not be so pleased. The future king and his younger brother reportedly have been at odds for years over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein.

“Andrew welcomed Epstein at Windsor Castle, Sandringham, and Balmoral at different points during their friendship, which led to tensions between him and Charles,” a royal source told Vanity Fair’s royal reporter Katie Nicholl.

“Charles has disapproved of quite a lot of Andrew’s friends and acquaintances over the years, and Epstein is no exception,” the source added. “I was told he was very concerned about the friendship for a long time and saw it as a disaster waiting to happen.”

But Sarah is sticking by Andrew, the Daily Mail reported, noting that they have vacationed together at the luxury Sotogrande resort, near Gibraltar, every summer since 2009. The Daily Mail said the couple were seen Wednesday arriving by private jet at the airport in Malaga.

The Daily Mail said the couple love the resort in the Andalusian hills because it offers almost complete privacy.

The villa they have used before is surrounded by secluded woodland, and security includes a high electric gate and a 12-foot perimeter fence, which should deter unwanted visitors, including the paparazzi, the Daily Mail added.