A SOUTHAMPTON charity will discuss the role of Prince Andrew as its patron following high-profile allegations against him.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust based in Southampton has announced that it will be discussing Prince Andrew’s role as its patron at its December Board meeting.

It comes after news that the Duke will step back from public duties “for the foreseeable future” following an interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A statement released on Tuesday evening said that the Duke had asked the Queen for permission to step out of the public eye, and that this had been granted.

The Trust, which offers people inclusive sailing experiences no matter their ability, is just one of the many organisations and businesses reviewing Prince Andrew’s role.

In July, the Trust put out an urgent appeal to raise £1m in just five days.

The trustees launched the rescue effort to address “serious financial challenges” and to continue operating.

Andrew was accused of showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life while in prison earlier this year.

In the Newsnight interview, the duke also denied claims that he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, on three separate occasions.

The duke cancelled a visit to flood-ravaged communities in South Yorkshire on Tuesday, but Buckingham Palace maintained this was not because of the fall-out from his interview.

A palace spokesman said: “The duke was due to attend to offer his support and thanks to the emergency services but, with an election campaign and a politician also visiting, it was not appropriate for the visit to continue.”

It also emerged that Andrew’s BBC interview contradicted a senior aide’s account of his friendship with Epstein.

The duke said he first met the since-disgraced financier through “his girlfriend back in 1999”.

But in March 2011, the duke’s then-private secretary, Alastair Watson, wrote to The Times newspaper saying Andrew met Epstein in the “early 1990s”.

Barclays and BT have become the latest high-profile firms to distance themselves from the Duke of York.

Banking giant Barclays said it is concerned about the situation and is keeping its involvement with Pitch@Palace under review, while telecoms giant BT warned that it will only continue to back a digital skills award scheme if Andrew is dropped as patron.