Fresh royal scandal was brewing last week when it emerged that Prince Andrew had joined his mother in Balmoral to reportedly “avoid being served papers” relating to Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s attempt to sue him for “sexual assault”.
Lawyers are alleged to have made “multiple attempts” to serve him with the papers after it emerged that Virginia, now 38, made a US civil claim against the Duke, 61, for “sexually abusing” her 20 years ago, when she was under 18 – something he strongly denies.
It’s the second time Andrew has made a trip to Balmoral this summer, having already visited his mother there in August with ex-wife Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson. And Paul says that, as well as the predicament with Harry and Meghan, the Queen will be under tremendous pressure regarding Prince Andrew.
He says, “Every royal family member has one trip to Balmoral each year to visit the Queen – so the fact Prince Andrew has fled back there to be at his mother’s side shows how much of a crisis this is. It’s a terrible time for the Queen.
Check out: 9 times Meghan Markle dressed like Princess Diana
All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana - slider
1 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
The glittering Roland Mouret gown worn by Meghan at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's Totem show was reminiscent of a Catherine Walker dress Princess Diana wore in 1990.
2 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both Meghan and Diana chose a monochrome color palette for visits to Royal Ascot.
3 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
It seems both royals are a fan of pairing red and purple. Princess Diana wore the combo a visit to Hong Kong in November 1989 while Meghan wore it on a visit to Birkenhead in January of 2019.
4 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
In 1987 Princess Diana wore tartan at Bute Highland Games in Scotland and two decades later Meghan wore a Burberry tartan coat for an official visit to Scotland during her engagement.
5 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Meghan sheer pleated Givenchy skirt (which caused quite the controversy) and matching top may well have been inspired by Princess Diana's all-blue look from 1982.
6 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both royal women are a fan of pinstripes, as seen by this pinstriped blazer worn by Diana in Sheffield and the buttoned Altuzarra dress Meghan wore at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
7 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Even at the end of her royal duties, Meghan channelled Diana in her wardrobe. Just look at this green dress and matching hat worn by Meghan on Commonwealth Day compared to Diana's Trooping of the Colour dress and hat from 1982.
8 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
At the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, one of the very first times we saw Meghan and Harry in public together, Meghan and her cali-girl vibes looked very similar to an outfit Princess Diana wore while in Bosnia.
9 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Not ones to shy away from colour, Princess Diana and Meghan also both know just how amazing a simple white dress can look.
10 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Both have sported tailored blush pink dresses. Princess Diana wore a Versace coat dress in 1995 while The Duchess of Sussex wore a modern take on the trend when visiting the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in London.
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Meghan's second wedding dress (a Stella McCartney design) was noticeably similar to a high-necked evening gown worn by Princess Diana at a reception at Spencer House in London.
12 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
Meghan wore a stunning Safiyaa caped red gown o the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall that looked very similar to the red Jacques Azagury dress Diana wore to an American Red Cross dinner in 1997.
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The chic plaid suit that Diana wore while at Paddington Station in London in 1988 looks very similar to an off-the-shoulder structured shirt Meghan wore on a visit to Wales.
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The off-the-shoulder pink Carolina Herrera dress Meghan wore to Trooping the Colour was rather similar to Princess Diana's look worn at the Royal Ballet in Germany in 1987.
15 of 15All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana
At Commonwealth Day in March 2019 Meghan wore an emerald green Erden coat not dissimilar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1982.
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“If Andrew is served papers and if the claim is successful, he could be ordered to pay Virginia millions of pounds, and he’ll most likely have to ask the Queen for the money – he only gets a modest pension from the Navy.
“But the Queen simply cannot be seen to be associated with this scandal. It would horrendously damage her reputation. She loves Andrew – he’s said to be her favourite son – but she knows her duty and that the future of the monarchy could be jeopardised. It will be hard for her but, in this case, duty comes before her family –she won’t bail out Andrew.”