The Queen is growing increasingly frustrated with Prince Andrew, according to her former press secretary.
Dickie Arbiter, who was the Queen's official spokesperson for many years, opened up on Tuesday (local time) on Good Morning Britain about Prince Andrew's recent controversial interview where he discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew's interview with the BBC has been described as a "catastrophic error".
In the interview, he admitted he had "let the side down" by staying with Epstein after his conviction for paying a teenage girl for sex.
Epstein died in prison in August after being arrested for sex trafficking of minors. He also faced accusations of sexually abusing dozens of young girls. The billionaire faced up to 45 years of jail time if found guilty but died before being tried.
Prince Andrew has been under increasing pressure over his ties to Epstein. One of Epstein's accusers, in particular, has called on the Prince to come forward with information about Epstein.
Another woman, Virginia Roberts, has claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17. He has called the claims "false" and "without foundation".
Arbiter said he believed the Queen has "had a rough time" as pressure mounts on Prince Andrew.
Arbiter told Piers Morgan that the Queen would be concerned both as a public figure and also as a mother.
"Well, you have got to look at the Queen as two people, she's Queen, head of state and she's also a mother," Arbiter said.
"She has to put on a brave face in public, she has to be collegiate in public.
"But in private, she will really want to know what is going on and I don't think she's getting answers."
Arbiter said he thinks Prince Andrew "really needs to step back".
Earlier this week, Prince Andrew was also accused of using a racial slur in a Buckingham Palace interview in 2012.
