HAVING to endure a squirm-inducing inquisition from BBC’s Emily Maitlis INSIDE Buckingham Palace is an acknowledgement that these are indeed desperate times for Randy Andy.

There is zero doubt that the Duke of York is fighting to save his battered reputation.

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This could be the most consequential royal interview since Princess Diana on Panorama in 1995 — but the early indication is he hasn’t done quite enough.

Saying of accuser Virginia Roberts that he has “no recollection of ever meeting this lady” is hardly a full throttled denial of sex.

He is clearly penitent about his decision to visit Jeffrey Epstein AFTER his conviction. But can he explain maintaining any sort of relationship with a known paedophile?

This could be the most consequential royal interview since Princess Diana on Panorama in 1995.

While Andrew wants this interview to be the end of the matter, it actually might raise more questions.

Why not help in the US civil court cases? And what about further co-operation with the police?

This is the second disastrous royal TV interview in a month, following Harry and Meghan’s woe-is-me Africa documentary.

Like that one, Andrew’s chat will infuriate Prince Charles as it takes the spotlight away from his trip to New Zealand.

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And Andrew’s choice to go public could backfire if it looks like he’s trying to “mansplain” his way out of a dodgy situation.

But he’s right about one thing – he let the side down in a mortifying manner.

Even the Queen must be disappointed in her favourite son.

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