The Duke of York last night set himself on a collision course with the Palace who will be horrified by his insistence on facing Virginia Roberts in a US court to deny claims they had sex three times.
The close associate of the Duke of York claimed that The Queen could allow Andrew to regain some of his patronages if he won his legal battle with Virginia Giuffre.
The Duke of York, who can no longer be known as His Royal Highness in any official capacity , is expected to write to his former regiments to express his remorse at having to leave.