IT'S THE END OF THE LINE

THE King told Prince Andrew his life as a senior royal was over in a 10-minute phone call.

- RUSSELL MYERS

Charles called the meeting following fresh claims about his brother's links to late US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and alleged Chinese spies.

Royal sources told how the King had grown “weary and furious” over the continuing tide of scandal plaguing the monarchy and told Andrew that drastic action was needed to stem it.

One royal source said: “After close consultation with his family, and in particular Prince William, the King summoned Andrew to tell him to do the right thing.

“He was told it was beyond comprehension for him to continue to enjoy the privileges of his position.”

Following Thursday's phone call Andrew agreed to give up his titles except prince, and issued a statement on Friday night.

He will no longer be Duke of York or a Knight of the Garter - the world’s oldest order of chivalry.

The bombshell came seven months after the suicide of Virginia Giuffre who was trafficked by billionaire Epstein and says she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times.

And it is days before the publication of her tell-all memoir, which has reignited the scandal.

Commenting on Andrew's humiliation, her family said it was “a victory for Virginia” and urged the King to strip his title of prince.

Ms Giuffre, who died in April aged 41, claimed she was one of many vulnerable girls exploited by Epstein and his jetset friends.