Prince Andrew will miss the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations after contracting COVID-19 – but not everyone is convinced the diagnosis is valid.
The disgraced royal – who was stripped of her military and royal titles in January after being accused of sexual assault – tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
A spokesman later issued a statement saying Andrew, 62, would not attend a public service scheduled for Friday, where members of the Royal Family would gather to pay tribute to the Queen.
“After conducting routine tests, the Duke has tested positive for COVID and will regretfully not attend tomorrow’s service,” the statement said.
Andrew was photographed riding the horse in Windsor on Wednesday, and appeared to be fit and healthy.
He did not appear at Thursday’s Trooping the Color event with a balcony photo op reserved for senior members of the royal family. The prince does not perform any public duties.
Royal watchers were skeptical of Andrew’s COVID diagnosis, with many saying it was a “convenient” way to remove the controversial royal from the festivities.
“Covid?? I say bull-t on that,” one Twitter user explicitly stated About Andrew’s illness.
“Definition of facility. Prince Andrew tests positive for COVID and misses entire Jubilee weekend celebrations,” Another tweeted.
“Further proof they think we are as thick as two little planks,” A third person called.
Meanwhile, another social media pundit claimed that the COVID diagnosis was the right way for the royals to handle the situation.
“The institution knew that keeping him there would be terrible PR, but choosing not to go for it would seem like an admission of guilt,” He gave the theory.
Prince’s problems relate to his former friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Andrew – who was famously photographed by The Post while strolling with pedophiles since Epstein’s first release from prison in 2011 – has denied knowing anything about Epstein’s illegal behavior.
However, one of Epstein’s alleged sex slaves, 38-year-old Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has claimed that she had “disgusting” sex with Andrew three times, starting in 2001 when she was 17.
In January, Queen Elizabeth was stripped of the titles of prince after a Manhattan judge allowed the sexual assault lawsuit filed by Giuffre to proceed.
The following month, Andrew and Giuffre settled on the case.
The amount of the settlement will not be publicly disclosed, but a source told The Post that the estimated total is $12 million.
Andrew’s lawyers said he “categorically denies Giuffre’s false allegations against him.” He has never been criminally charged.
