Move follows disastrous interview about duke’s association with Jeffery Epstein

Prince Andrew is to step back from all of his charity patronages as the royal continues to come under fire over his association with billionaire financier and paedophile Jeffery Epstein.

Aides for the Duke of York confirmed on Sunday that he would be “standing back from all his patronages,” but added that the move away from public life was only temporary.

It comes after a disastrous interview with BBC Newsnight in which the duke denied he had had sex with a 17-year-old trafficking victim.

Following the interview, charities, universities and other organisations associated with the duke began to cut ties with the royal.

Andrew has now stepped back from all his charity patronages, although he will continue to work with his entrepreneurship project [email protected]

A spokeswoman said: “The duke has over 230 patronages. He will be stepping back from public duty and temporarily standing back from all his patronages.

“The duke will continue to work on Pitch and will look at how he takes this forward outside of his public duties, and outside of Buckingham Palace.

“We recognise there will be a period of time while this transition takes place.”

Charities which will lose Andrew as a patron include the Tall Ships Youth Trust, the British Deaf Association, the Children’s Foundation and Fight for Sight.

He had previously cut ties with the Outward Bound Trust just months after taking over the patronage from his father, Prince Philip.