After the disastrous Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, Roman soldiers were found dead with their heads buried in the sand – as trapped by Hannibal’s forces, they knew for hours they were doomed. The Roman formations were so tightly crushed together by Hannibal’s forces, they couldn’t even lift their shield arms, so 70,000 men had to wait their turn to be impaled by Hannibal’s spearmen. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have his head in the sand when it comes to apologising over the Epstein Files’ revelations – but he is caught in a trap of his own making. In recent days King Charles has offered “profound concern” over his brother’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, while William and Kate are “focused on the victims” – yet we’ve not heard from Andrew himself. 

His fellow royals are showing up Andrew and surely the only way to ease the pressure on the family is for the former Duke of York to say something. Ideally ‘sorry’ for being friends for so long with a vile paedophile. 

Right now Thames Valley Police is assessing a complaint by anti-monarchy group Republic over the alleged sharing of confidential material by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with Jeffrey Epstein. 

According to emails released by the US government, the ex-prince may have passed on reports of visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, and confidential details of gold and uranium investment opportunities in Afghanistan. 

Under official guidance, trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive, commercial, or political information about their official visits. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but revelations in the Epstein Files keep piling up.

We must be near his ‘mea culpa’ time because the mess he’s put the Royal Family in is certainly “through his fault”.

The Queen felt her son’s contact with the US paedophile “unwise” but gave him her “full support” even after the photos of him with Epstein after his conviction, and the other with his arm around tragic Virginia Giuffre in 2011.

But the Epstein Files have revealed a year earlier – in September 2010 while it’s believed Her Majesty was at Balmoral in Scotland – Andrew betrayed that support by inviting Epstein and a group of women to Buckingham Palace.

This is two years after Epstein pleaded guilty in a plea deal to procuring a 14-year-old for prostitution, to avoid further child sex charges. How shameful.

Now a former chaplain to the late Queen has said it “is the time for repentance” from Andrew and he must speak out instead of leaving it to innocents like his brother the King and his nephew William.

Rev Dr Gavin Ashenden fears the scandal could have a long-term impact on the royals as a poll for Sky News suggested most Brits feel King Charles should force Andrew to speak to US authorities.

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But will he speak out, say sorry for staying close to Epstein after he said he cut off contact, or do an interview? 

His disastrous 2019 Newsnight appearance opposite Emily Maitlis worsened his crisis, rather than soothed it. He’s as assured on TV as sandpaper is an emollient. 

Rev Ashenden said the former prince has shown “no sign of repentance”, embarrassment or shame, which he said could be a “real problem for Andrew”. 

He added: “We don’t know quite how much damage it will do to the Royal Family. I’m sure it’s not over yet.” 

But some royal sources claim Andrew has not apologised to Epstein’s victims as he feels “he’s done nothing wrong and definitely feels hard done by and too harshly treated.” 

The source added: “Unlike others who have expressed regret for associating with Epstein, he still refuses to do so. Apologising to Epstein’s victims would imply guilt.” 

While royal biographer Andrew Lownie blasts: “He’s such a narcissist that he still doesn’t feel the need to apologise.”