If the King needed any more evidence that he’d made the correct call,then this was proof. He’d always been adamant that the controversy over Andrew should not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the family. And even more so,it was Prince William who had pushed his father to make a stand.
The late Queen was said to understand their decision,but was displeased. Even in her final months,she defied them to allow him to walk her down the aisle during a memorial service to her late husband,Philip,in March.
Even before the Epstein scandal,it was always thought that the Duke had no future in King Charles III’s slimmed-down monarchy. It is no secret that Andrew is not close to his brother.
In June,William was so alarmed at the prospect of his shamed uncle’s attempted royal comeback that he reportedly warned that he would pull out of the Order of the Garter ceremony,one of the most traditional ceremonies in the royal calendar,where the monarch and the knights process in grand velvet robes,glistening insignia and plumed hats.
The now heir to the throne made it clear that unless the Duke of York – who had hoped to attend the ancient event at Windsor as a member of the order – was banned from taking his place in public,he would not be able to take part.
The dramatic move followed a piece inThe Telegraph that Andrew wanted his HRH status reinstated and,as a “Prince of the Blood”,wanted his position “recognised and respected”.
The Queen,although sympathetic to Andrew,gave in to Charles and William’s demands that he should miss the public elements of the event to protect the reputation of the family after a hugely successful Jubilee weekend.
At the weekend,following his mother’s death at Balmoral,Andrew adopted a visible role,thanking members of the public for their support through his family’s grief. He told one member of the crowd:“We’ve been allowed one day,now we start the process of handing her on.”
Consoling his clearly emotional daughters,princesses Eugenie and Beatrice,he put his arm around the former as she dabbed her eyes.
Banned from wearing military uniform at four out of the five ceremonial occasions over the mourning period,an exception has been made as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen when he stands guard around her coffin with his siblings during a vigil at Westminster Hall.
The ruling is believed to have been imposed by the King,who is determined that Andrew not be allowed to return as a working royal.
He has,however,acquired one new familial role. He and his former wife,Sarah,Duchess of York,who still live together at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate,have becomekeepers of the late Queen’s corgis and dorgi.
Loading
Andrew still receives taxpayer-funded police protection,despite no longer undertaking official duties. He was last year targeted by multiple intruders who tried to gain access to the Grade II-listed Windsor home.
The Duke of York may have been granted a temporary reprieve to mourn his beloved mother this week – but it’s clear he will remain persona non grata as far as “The Firm” is concerned.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world.Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.