Prince Andrew to quit as UK trade envoy

Move amid criticism over his alleged links with a billionaire-sex-offender:

UK: Prince Andrew is to stand down as Britain’s trade envoy in a move aimed at rebuilding his reputation amid rising criticism over his alleged links with a US sex offender.

A source close to the royals said the Duke of York will soon give up as the UK’s special representative, but he would continue to travel around the world to help expand the country’s trade.

The source revealed that the prince has already talked to Queen Elizabeth II and spoken to Downing Street about his decision to step down, which came following embarrassing revelations about his relationship with a number of indecent friends, including the American billionaire and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The prince has also been under fire from the critics and media over his friendships with politicians and billionaires in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Libya and Turkmenistan.

Prince Andrew came under more pressure when the WikiLeaks website disclosed that the duke had lashed out at the UK journalists and law enforcement agencies as he was on trips to other countries.

One ambassador wrote to Foreign Secretary William Hague and Business Secretary Vince Cable, urging them to fire the prince “as soon as possible,” citing fears that the duke’s affairs were doing serious damage to the Royal Family and to Britain.

Press TV