Prince Andrew will need resilience over sex claims

There's a tried and tested royal reaction when faced with a controversy - and there have been plenty over the years. It's to maintain that the Windsor in the uncomfortable spotlight is focused on their work.

This is the message emanating from Buckingham Palace about Prince Andrew as he grapples with whether or not he needs to do any more in response to the allegations of sex with a woman when she was under age, which he has denied.

As things stand, officials are insistent that what needed to be said has been said in the two statements and there is no prospect of the Queen's son appearing on television protesting his innocence.

Those who know the prince describe him as resilient. It's a quality he needs right now.