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Prince Andrew was with Sarah Ferguson on holiday in Balmoral when news of Jeffrey Epstein's death broke

Prince Andrew was with Sarah Ferguson in Balmoral on holiday when news of Jeffrey Epstein's death broke [Image: Getty]
Prince Andrew was with Sarah Ferguson in Balmoral on holiday when news of Jeffrey Epstein's death broke [Image: Getty]

Prince Andrew was with Sarah Ferguson on holiday in Balmoral when news of Jeffrey Epstein’s death broke.

The Duke and Duchess of York - who divorced in 1996 - were staying together at the Queen’s residence in Scotland when it emerged yesterday the disgraced wealthy financier was found unresponsive in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking.

It came a day after the monarch’s youngest child, 59, was accused in newly-released legal documents of having touched the breast of a young woman at Epstein’s home.

Princess Beatrice, 31, and 29-year-old Princess Eugenie’s father arrived at Balmoral on Tuesday by private jet, while their mother, 59, took a commercial flight up on Thursday.

READ MORE: Princess Beatrice's original name was 'vetoed by the Queen'

It is understood the pair, who have remained on good terms while raising their daughters, are spending a week with the Queen.

Their trip came amid speculation they have “rekindled” their romance, with the Scottish break among a series of occasions the pair have shared together in recent months - and they were pictured together at the recent Trooping The Colour.

However, reports have suggested their holiday to Balmoral had been timed to keep him out of the spotlight as a fresh round of allegations against the senior royal came to light on Friday.

Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epstein’s alleged victims, has claimed that the Duke inappropriately touched her when she was 21 years old as they sat on a coach inside his friend’s Manhattan apartment in 2001.

READ MORE: Why Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson were once 'thrown in police van'

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "This relates to proceedings in the United States, to which the Duke of York is not a party.

“Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue."

In the legal papers, Sjoberg stated: "I just remember someone suggesting a photo, and they told us to go get on the couch. And so Andrew and Virginia sat on the couch, and they put the puppet, the puppet on her lap.

"And so then I sat on Andrew's lap, and I believe on my own volition, and they took the puppet's hands and put it on Virginia's breast, and so Andrew put his on mine."

A fresh round of allegations against the Duke of York were revealed a day before the disgraced wealthy financier was found unresponsive in his New York jail cell
A fresh round of allegations against the Duke of York were revealed a day before the disgraced wealthy financier was found unresponsive in his New York jail cell

READ MORE: Princess Beatrice 'cried for days' after Fergie scandal

The Duke and Duchess, who married in 1986, divorced in 1996 following four years separation.

They now live together in the Royal Lodge in Windsor, and were revealed in April by ITV’s royal editor Chris Ship to be back together.

“The Queen wanted them there as a family and it’s very much her giving the private nod of approval,” a royal insider told The Sun of their trip to Balmoral.

“They went to great lengths to avoid being spotted together arriving.”

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “The Duke of York’s travel to Scotland was paid for privately.

“Balmoral is The Queen’s private home so we wouldn’t comment on who may or may not be staying there.”

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