STUBBORN KING STILL WON'T BIN TOXIC DUKE

Wills' call to banish Prince is dismissed

- RUSSELL MYERS

Charles feels 'sense of duty' to late mother

THE King is intent on keeping Prince Andrew in the family fold despite warnings from Prince William that the Duke of York is "toxic" and should be banished for good, insiders say.

Charles has assured his brother he "won't be abandoned", despite being named 69 times across hundreds of pages of legal documents containing details of sex abuse carried out by paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

Royal sources say the King "feels a sense of duty" to his late mother to ensure Andrew "isn't cut adrift".

But amid calls for Scotland Yard to investigate the Duke over his relationship with pal Epstein, insiders say the King would only take further action if his brother faces criminal charges.

One insider said: "Charles's position has not changed in terms of allowing Andrew back into the family fold. As King, he decided to order the rest of the family to fall in line and welcome him back and that was the end of the matter.

"[Charles] had discussed it with others, including Prince William, but his decision was final.

"Charles promised his late mother he would not abandon Andrew once she was gone and that remains the situation, unless of course he finds himself engaged in a criminal matter."