Amidst court papers unveiling shocking allegations in the US, suggesting involvement in an underage orgy and appearances in compromising sex tapes — vehemently denied by the Duke of York, 63 — Prince Andrew is reportedly on a strict New Year diet that has left him in a “terrible mood.”

Holed up in his expansive 31-room Royal Lodge mansion, Andrew is said to be grumpier than usual, not due to the unfolding legal developments but rather the confines of his special diet, which he reportedly detests, causing irritability.

This health kick comes in the wake of revelations last year that his brother, King Charles, refused to foot the £32,000-a-year bill for an Indian healer who employs chanting, massages, and holistic therapy during month-long stays at Andrew’s mansion.

Caught in the midst of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal fallout, Andrew was spotted driving his Land Rover Defender to Windsor Castle before retreating back to Royal Lodge around 1 pm, where sources claim he has opted to “lock himself away in a room” to escape the repercussions.

King Charles is allegedly keen to distance himself from his younger brother, facing mounting calls to strip Andrew of his title and evict him from Royal Lodge. However, Andrew’s purported 75-year lease, not expiring until 2078, poses a significant obstacle to such plans.

Court documents unveiled shocking claims of Andrew’s involvement in an underage orgy on Epstein’s infamous “paedophile island” and the creation of sex tapes by the deceased billionaire Epstein. The papers also suggested Andrew’s awareness of the trafficking conduct of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Amid the scandal, more than 1,000 documents were disclosed in a lawsuit against Maxwell by Virginia Giuffre, an accuser of sex abuse. While Andrew expressed regret over his association with Epstein, he settled with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, paying her millions of pounds.