Andrew’s pal claims disgraced duke will RETURN to royal life – saying Brits will ‘forgive’ him despite rape claims

PRINCE Andrew's pal has claimed the disgraced duke will RETURN to royal life after settling with his sex abuse accuser.

Colonel Rupert Wieloch even said Brits will "forgive" the Duke of York after he avoided spilling his secrets by swerving a court battle.

The former British commander, who trained alongside Andrew in the military, insisted his old chum has a real shot at redemption.

He suggested the Duke could return as a front-line royal - spectacularly comparing his future comeback to that of Camilla Parker Bowles.

Andrew was previously stripped of his royal title, all military honours and patronages after a face-to-face showdown with the Queen in January.

Col Wieloch told Good Morning Britain: "My sense is that the British people do forgive people who are genuinely regretful of their mistakes in the past.

"With time - a very long time - it is possible for a way back to be paved out for Prince Andrew."

It comes after royal experts suggested the duke views his out-of-court agreement as a way back in with the royal brood.

Commentator Adam Helliker said he "envisages a way back" and will be hoping to regain his former roles and a few "quiet patronages", despite being banished from public life.

Ex-military chief Wieloch said Andrew could take heed of the Duchess of Cornwall's extraordinary turnaround in the court of public opinion.

He discussed Camilla's rise through the ranks amid the recent revelation that she will become Queen when Charles takes the throne.

But Col Wieloch believes Andrew also needs to look to the next generation of royals to help restore his soiled reputation.

He added: "I think he needs to take advice from Prince William because I think he still has a very good understanding of what modern society in Britain demands of the royal family."

After announcing his settlement just weeks before he was due to be grilled during a two-day deposition, the royal family will be breathing a sigh of relief after being spared from a highly-embarrassing legal row.

The bombshell comes as:

• Virginia and Andrew were both facing depositions under oath in coming weeks
• The Palace remains silent on Andrew's settlement
• Virginia was reported to have "lost" the infamous original photo of her with Andrew
• The Duke's lawyers were hunting for women who could "discredit" Virginia
• Andrew's mysterious wealth came under the spotlight as he lived a millionaire party lifestyle
• Prince Charles banished Andrew from Windsor and told him to "stay out of sight"
• Andrew's former physio slammed the Duke as "creepy" as he would get naked for massages

But royal expert Angela Levin credits the climax of the case to the Queen, who "put her foot down" and forced her favourite son to settle.

Her Majesty is reportedly helping the duke foot the bill for the megabucks deal - which has been speculated to be up to £12million.

She said Andrew's role in the Royal Family is "finished" and he won't ever see an active role in public life again, as the world will interpret his settlement "as guilt".

Ms Levin told the Sun: "Settling could have been the easiest option. He refused to say that he was guilty, but it does smell as if he was. 

"I think people will interpret it as guilt. He will never be seen as a member of the Royal Family again, he just won't be allowed to. 

"Prince Charles has made that very clear and the Queen has agreed, and Prince William.

'HE'S FINISHED'

"He's not going to pick up any public engagements on behalf of the royal family. Nothing to do with military people. 

"He won't be at the Platinum Jubilee. He's finished, he's had it. The only thing that is good is people are not going to hear awful things, personal things about him if it went to court.

"My feeling is that the Queen put her foot down and said 'you've got to sort it out, I don't want it over my Jubilee. I'm the longest living Monarch'. And that's it, he's not been allowed to waffle."

The bombshell settlement, just days before Andrew's 62nd birthday, leaves many questions unanswered over Virginia's allegations.

US attorney David Boies, who represents Giuffre, said in the filing in a Manhattan federal court that lawyers on both sides were informing the judge that they had agreed a settlement in principle.

And he added they will request a dismissal of the lawsuit within a month.

PAEDO PALS

Virginia Giuffre accused the Duke of sexually abusing her when she was 17 while she traveled with Andrew's paedo pals Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Court documents show the Duke will make a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights".

Andrew has also pledged to "demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein" by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."

Andrew's settlement statement marked the first time he had shown contrition over his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.

The Duke had previously defended his friendship with the paedo has having "seriously beneficial outcomes" away from the rape allegations.

Giuffre first sued Andrew last August.

It was the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011.

READ PIERS MORGAN'S BRILLIANT UNCENSORED COLUMN: Prince Andrew’s a snivelling little coward whose denials weren’t worth the paper they were written on