Prince William is said to be drawing a firm line when it comes to his controversial uncle, Prince Andrew. According to a report in The Sunday Times, the heir to the throne intends to exclude
Andrew from any role or appearance at his future coronation—and, more broadly, from royal life altogether.
Sources close to the Prince of Wales suggest that William believes Andrew continues to pose a serious risk to the monarchy’s reputation. As a result, he plans to keep his uncle out of both public royal events and private family gatherings, including Christmas and Easter celebrations.
This wouldn’t be the first time the two have kept their distance. Earlier this year, William and the Princess of Wales skipped the family’s traditional Easter gathering at Windsor, where Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were notably in attendance at St. George’s Chapel. Reports now indicate that such appearances by Andrew and Ferguson will not be tolerated once William becomes king.
Andrew’s public standing has deteriorated dramatically since his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Though he has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing, new emails and details have recently resurfaced—intensifying pressure within the royal household.
In a significant move earlier this week, Prince Andrew announced that he would give up his royal titles and honors. Originally granted the titles Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986, Andrew has now agreed to stop using them. He has also stepped back from the prestigious Order of the Garter. However, because royal peerages cannot simply be revoked, he technically remains the Duke of York until his death unless Parliament intervenes.
Sarah Ferguson, his former wife, has also chosen to revert to her maiden name, ending her use of the title “Duchess of York,” which she retained after their divorce in 1996.
Following the announcement of Andrew’s renunciation, the Royal Family appeared eager to project a sense of normalcy. Queen Camilla attended the races at Ascot just hours later, smiling alongside Zara Tindall and other family members. Meanwhile, a frosty encounter outside Westminster Cathedral—where William appeared to ignore Andrew after the funeral of the Duchess of Kent—has fueled speculation about just how deep the rift runs between the two men.
As King Charles continues his reign, it seems increasingly clear that Prince William is preparing for a future monarchy with tighter boundaries—and no place for Prince Andrew within it. Photo by Paul Townley, Wikimedia commons.