Prince Andrew is still stalked by his decade-long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and the release of these documents was always going to be difficult.

They certainly make for uncomfortable reading.

They detail the testimony from Johanna Sjoberg, who is one of the many women who say they were abused by Epstein.

She says how she saw Virginia Giuffre when she was 17 years old at Epstein’s New York mansion with Prince Andrew.

The Duke of York has always denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre and strongly denied all allegations. In 2022 he paid millions to settle a civil lawsuit with her.

He was spared from the showdown of a trial but could not save his reputation, or his royal role.

In 2022 the late Queen stripped Andrew, often described as her favourite child, of his titles and patronage.

Prince Andrew’s cheerful appearance at Sandringham for the royal Christmas celebrations will be short-lived.

Even bringing Fergie back into the fold cannot mask the continued scrutiny he faces.

He has little to lose but this still feels like a fresh embarrassment.

If he thought it was all in the past, he was wrong.

He might be welcomed privately, but publicly he remains a royal outcast.