Underage Sex Scandal - Andrew & Fergie Escape The Heat

The Yorks ride it out in Spain

The royal family’s annual summer pilgrimage to the Queen’s beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland is traditionally their happiest time of the year. It’s a chance to relax and unwind, and for the family to come together away from the pressures of their usual palace life.

But last week all that was shattered, with the monarchy plunged into crisis over shocking new claims around Prince Andrew’s alleged involvement in a sordid underage sex ring.

While the duke has long denied the claims levelled against him, our source says the latest twist in the saga has seen the 59-year-old – who was holidaying at

Balmoral with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters Princesses Beatrice, 31, and Eugenie, 29, when the scandal broke – struggling to cope with the fallout.

He and the duchess have now escaped to a secret retreat in Spain.

“No-one could have predicted the events of the past week,” says the insider.

“Those close to Andrew are very worried about his mental state and the Queen is terribly upset – she can’t bear seeing her son implicated in such a dreadful mess. They are terrified about what details could still come out and they know this isn’t going to go away soon.”