Prince William has attempted to marginalize his uncle, Prince Andrew, formerly the Duke of York under QEII. While the pressure mounts for Andrew to disengage from royal life, William’s hand is clearly getting harder. The attention on Andrew was further exacerbated by his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has vigorously disputed the accusations featured in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
Though reports swirl that Buckingham Palace are negotiating with Prince Andrew over his future departure from Royal Lodge, Windsor. The discussions are not just about his zip code. Through the course of the negotiations, Andrew was offered other accommodations. These include Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage, homes of Prince Harry and Meghan. Like the royal family, we advocates hope to find a solution that best fits our values and public appetite.
Prince William’s isolation has fitted into focus as he leads calls for a strong, public-line to be drawn between the monarchy and Andrew. According to press, William would like to keep both Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from his forthcoming coronation. This decision hints at his preference for a more limited approach to royal associations in future coronation ceremonies.
An awkward tension seems to have permeated the air during a recent meeting between Prince William and Prince Andrew. This embarrassing incident played out at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral. That exchange was the most cringe worthy, showcasing the damage of their described fragility family relationship deepened by the uncovering controversies still going on at present.
Look how quickly King Charles got slammed after a single protester shouted him down at his coronation. The protest also prompted important questions about Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. The protester was looking for answers about what the royal family knew about the allegations and who would be held accountable for their actions.
“How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein? Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew? Should MPs be allowed to debate the royals in the House of Commons?” – A lone protester
In light of this summer’s developments, it sounds like William’s approach is following a long-standing exemples set by other members of the royal family. Illustrating his brother’s ruthlessness, biographer Andrew pointed to William’s treatment of Andrew’s unfortunate life. He made the comparisons with how Edward VIII was treated in his day. The Duke of Windsor, for instance, did not attend significant royal occasions such as Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding or her coronation in 1953.
Since stepping back from public duties in 2019 following a controversial BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein, Prince Andrew has made limited appearances alongside the royal family. He was a real catalyst in our Christmas Day and Easter Sunday recent church services. This signifies his attempt to be in touch with the traditions of royal family.
Although talks are reportedly ongoing at Buckingham Palace over what, if any role Andrew might have in the future, how this will all play out is anyone’s guess. Looking ahead, the royal family has a delicate balancing act between honoring family connections, listening to public opinion, and the consequences of past misdeeds.
