Still Mummy's little boy! Queen marks Prince Andrew's 60th with a baby photo and a new official portrait while Fergie shares a sombre black and white snap amid ongoing cloud of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
- Royal Family Instagram account wished Prince Andrew a happy 60th birthday
- The Queen's official account shared a photo of the Duke of York as a baby
- Celebrations come amid the ongoing cloud of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
The Queen and the Duchess of York have paid tribute to Prince Andrew as he celebrates his 60th birthday under the cloud of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The official Royal Family Instagram account offered a public show of support for Andrew, widely considered to be the Queen's 'favourite' son, by sharing two photos: a childhood snap of the prince and a new formal portrait.
The caption reads: 'On this day in 1960, Prince Andrew was born at Buckingham Palace, the first child born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. Happy Birthday to The Duke of York.'
Meanwhile Sarah Ferguson, 60, shared a photo of her ex-husband relaxing at home with two dogs, alongside an unusually subdued message.
The posts are a glimmer of normality on what will otherwise be a day of muted celebrations for Andrew, one far removed from the fanfare typically enjoyed by senior royals on their milestone birthdays.
The Queen paid tribute to Prince Andrew as he celebrates his 60th birthday under the cloud of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. She shared this photo of the Duke of York to mark the occasion
The Royal Family also shared this new formal portrait of the Duke of York to mark the birthday
The post, pictured, is a glimmer of normality on what will otherwise be a day of muted celebrations far removed from the fanfare typically enjoyed by royals on milestone birthdays
Government buildings will not be required to fly the Union flag to mark his birthday and he will not promoted to admiral, as was planned.
There will also be no dazzling party at Buckingham Palace, although there will be a small family dinner at Royal Lodge, his home in Windsor Great Park, for about a dozen, including Fergie and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Share this article
The bells of Westminster Abbey will still ring out in celebration as it is a Royal Peculiar, a place of worship that falls under the jurisdiction of the monarch rather than a bishop.
The pared back celebrations are a far cry from Andrew's 50th.
Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson shared this photo of the prince on Instagram today
The Duchess of York posted an uncharacteristically restrained caption to accompany the snap
By then, his association with Jeffrey Epstein — the disgraced U.S. financier who was found dead in a New York prison cell last August — was well known, but it failed to deter a string of glamorous women from attending the Duke's birthday bash, which was held over a weekend at St James's Palace.
Partygoers included Catrina Skepper, the one-time Pretty Polly and Cadbury's Flake model, as well as socialite Caroline Stanbury, who subsequently appeared on reality TV show Ladies Of London, and Kazakh-born socialite Goga Ashkenazi.
The Duke of York also gave a TV interview, in which he discussed criticisms levelled against his extravagant lifestyle.
Andrew's birthday comes on what has been a difficult week for his mother the Queen, with her nephew David Linley announcing his divorce from wife Serena, and her grandson Peter Phillips revealing he has separated from his wife Autumn.
The monarch, 93, has also had to manage the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes' recent departure, and the Duke of York's decision to step back from royal duties in the wake of his disastrous Newsnight interview.
The duke faced a backlash after the interview with critics accusing him of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, and empathy with his victims.
Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, also alleges the duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.
Andrew, who strenuously denies the allegations, has faced calls to talk to the FBI and US prosecutors still investigating Epstein, who committed suicide in jail while facing sex trafficking charges.
Andrew's birthday comes on what has been a difficult week for his mother the Queen, with her nephew David Linley announcing his divorce from wife Serena, and her grandson Peter Phillips revealing he has separated from his wife Autumn. Pictured, Andrew and the Queen last month
Today photos emerged showing Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, who has links to the prince, partying with women in the Bahamas just days after he was accused of luring teenage girls to the compound and sexually assaulting them.
Andrew visited Nygard at his lavish estate in 2000, after the fashion designer had agreed out-of-court settlements with three employees who accused him of sexual harassment.
The prince and Sarah Ferguson stayed at Nygard Cay, near Nassau, with Beatrice and Eugenie.
