Prince Andrew will attend the service of thanksgiving for the life of his father, Prince Philip, next week.
The Duke of York’s appearance will be his first public engagement since he paid an undisclosed sum, thought to be in the millions, to Virginia Giuffre who had accused him of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit. He denies the accusation.
The service of thanksgiving will take place next Tuesday at Westminster Abbey and it is hoped that the Queen will attend. She missed the Commonwealth Day service last week because of mobility problems. The Duke of Sussex will not be going to the service but will stay in the US with his wife and children.
At next week’s service Andrew, 62, will meet members and representatives of the charities and organisations whose patronage he was forced to give up following the accusations. He is then expected to step down from all public engagements.
In January the Queen removed the HRH title from her second son and took away his military patronages, including his position as colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
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As part of the settlement with Giuffre, the duke made no admission of liability. A statement from his lawyers said that he would also make a “substantial donation” to victims’ rights charities.
