Prince Charles 'read the riot act' to his under-fire brother Prince Andrew during a dramatic showdown at Sandringham amid the ongoing Epstein scandal, a source claims.

The Prince of Wales is said to have dragged his younger sibling to the royal estate for a crunch summit where he effectively retired the duke from his public duties.

Charles told his embattled brother there was 'no way back into the family in the near future' after the public outcry that followed his disastrous Newsnight interview last month.

Prince Philip also joined his sons for the light lunch, which took place shortly before the BBC interview with Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts aired on Monday.

Prince Charles 'read the riot act' to his under-fire brother Andrew (pictured together, left) during a dramatic showdown amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein (right)

Prince Philip also joined his sons for the light lunch, which took place shortly before the BBC interview with Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts (pictured) aired on Monday

The royal source told The Sun: 'It was all very civilised and calm but Charles calmly read him the riot act and told him there was no way back for him in the near future.

'Andrew thought he was being treated harshly as nothing has yet been proved against him, but he accepted the decision. He really had little choice.'

Charles was also said to be concerned with the prospect of Andrew going to the US to clear his name, amid fears that such a move could 'remove the mystery' surrounding the royal family.

The source added: 'Philip regrets Andrew doesn't know how to lead a simple life. He thinks he's been too extravagant.'

The Prince of Wales' key role in 'retiring' Prince Andrew from public life has fed speculation he is preparing to adopt a modern 'Prince Regent' role.

Such a position would see him control day-to-day royal affairs while his mother remains monarch.

Her Majesty will turn 95 in 18 months, the same age at which her husband Philip withdrew from his public duties.

There is talk among courtiers that she may use the milestone to effectively hand over day-to-day control of the monarchy to Charles.

The Queen has been gradually reducing the number of public engagements she attends from 332 in 2016 to 283 in 2018. Charles, meanwhile, undertook 507.

Andrew faced fresh humiliation this week after Miss Roberts gave an interview to the BBC in which she reinforced claims she was forced into sleeping with the royal.

Sources close to Andrew last night accused the BBC of allowing his accuser to 'cry a lot' and protested over the differing treatment of their two separate BBC interviews.

The crisis deepened last night as a new witness claimed she was 'feet away' from Prince Andrew and Miss Roberts as they danced in a nightclub.

Lisa Bloom, lawyer for victims of Jeffrey Epstein, says an as-yet-unnamed woman 'vividly remembers' seeing the pair at Tramp nightclub in Mayfair in March 2001.

Miss Roberts has claimed that she was forced to have sex with Andrew that evening by her alleged sex trafficker Epstein, having danced with the prince inside the club.

In his own 'disastrous' BBC interview with Emily Maitlis last month, Andrew claimed he 'was never in Tramp's' with Miss Roberts, now known as Virginia Roberts-Guiffre.

After dancing at Tramp's, Miss Roberts claims she slept with Andrew at the Belgravia home of alleged pimp Ghislaine Maxwell, where this now infamous photo was allegedly taken

Lisa Bloom, lawyer for victims of Jeffrey Epstein, claims a witness 'vividly remembers' seeing Virginia Roberts (right, on Panorama last night) with Prince Andrew in March 2001

Who is Lisa Bloom? US lawyer representing Epstein victims who also advised Weinstein Lisa Bloom is a high-profile attorney based in the US who has been involved in a number of controversial cases. She is known for representing the women whose sexual harassment claims precipitated the firing of former TV host Bill O'Reilly from Fox News. Despite her reputation as a lawyer known for representing female victims of sexual misconduct, she also advised disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein amid abuse allegations from numerous Hollywood stars. During her time as an adviser to Weinstein, she was criticised heavily by the US media for its 'dissonance' with Bloom's prior representation of sexual assault victims. She referred to Weinstein as 'an old dinosaur learning new ways' and asserting that 'he denies many of the accusations as patently false'. Two days after the publication of a 2017 New York Times expose into allegations against Weinstein, Bloom stepped down from her role. Bloom courted controversy again in 2017 when her client, the comedienne Kathy Griffin, was pictured in a photoshoot clenching a severed and bloodied head resembling President Donald Trump. Advertisement

He also added that it could not have happened on the date suggested as he spent the day with his daughter Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking.

However Miss Bloom has revealed the new witness claims to have seen Andrew with the then-17-year-old and was willing to speak to Scotland Yard and the FBI.

Ms Bloom told The Sun: 'She says that in 2001 she was at the Tramp nightclub and recalls seeing Prince Andrew.

'It was pointed out to her by a member of her group.

'The woman remembers it vividly. She had never seen a royal before or since.

'It was a very big moment for her — she stared at him.

'She says he was with Virginia, who looked very young and not happy, but Andrew was smiling and seemed to be very much enjoying himself on the dancefloor.

'She remembered it all these years and when she saw Prince Andrew on television a few weeks ago denying he knew Virginia, she was very displeased about that.

'We decided the best thing to do is to go to the FBI and Scotland Yard. I believe her to be credible.

'She is not asking for any money or making a legal claim — she just wants to tell her story. She is very afraid but thinks speaking out is very important.'

After dancing at Tramp's, Miss Roberts claims she slept with Andrew at the nearby Belgravia home of alleged pimp Ghislaine Maxwell.

The prince has denied any claims that he preyed on Virginia Roberts at the fashionable Mayfair club

It was here that the now notorious photo of the prince and Miss Roberts was allegedly taken, however sources close to Andrew have questioned its authenticity.

Sources close to the Duke last night criticised BBC Panorama for failing to challenge Miss Roberts on her claims that she was forced into having sex with Andrew.

One source told the Daily Telegraph: 'I don't think he [the Duke] has been given a fair trial.

'She wasn't cross-examined on any of the details. She was allowed to say what she wanted and cry a lot.

The Duke of York has previously been pictured at Tramp, which has marked its half century this year.

He met former girlfriend Koo Stark there, and was also photographed there with the Duchess of York.

Prince Andrew pictured outside Mayfair nightclub Tramp in the 1980s. The prince has denied any claims that he preyed on Virginia Roberts in the Mayfair nightclub before taking advantage of her at the Belgravia home of Ghislaine Maxwell in March 2001

Photographers captured him leaving the bar as a 23-year-old in 1983, in the early hours of the morning in 1986, and with pregnant wife Sarah in March 1990.

Miss Roberts has previously claimed that during their first meeting, when she was 17, a group including Andrew had dinner and then went dancing at Tramp's.

But he told Emily Maitlis in his BBC interview: 'I'm convinced that I was never in Tramp's with her.

'There are a number of things that are wrong with that story, one of which is that I don't know where the bar is in Tramp's.

'I don't drink, I don't think I've ever bought a drink in Tramp's whenever I was there.'

Miss Roberts repeated her assertion that they slept together in London during her BBC Panorama interview last night.

She said: 'Ghislaine tells me I have to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey and that made me sick.

Prince Andrew leaving Tramp in the 1980s. He met former girlfriend Koo Stark there, and was also photographed there with the Duchess of York

Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured in New York in March 2005

'I just didn't expect it from royalty. I didn't expect it from someone people look up to and admire.

'It didn't last very long. The whole thing, procedure - it was disgusting. He got up and said "thanks" and walked out and I sat there in bed.

'The next day Ghislaine pats me on the back and said "you made him really happy". I had just been abused by a member of the royal family.'

Andrew has claimed he had a medical condition in 2001, after suffering an overdose of adrenaline in the Falklands War which meant he did not sweat.

He also denied having sex with Miss Roberts, saying: 'I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened', adding: 'I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady.'

She alleges that the duke slept with her on three separate occasions, twice while she was under age.

Andrew was interviewed by Emily Maitlis in a Newsnight programme shown on November 16, during which he refuted the suggestion that he went to Tramp's nightclub with Miss Roberts



