Prince Andrew Snubbed from Jubilee Public Events Over Covid and Controversy
Prince Andrew, still reeling from scandal and Covid woes, will be barred from attending the public celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Monday. Instead, he’ll be limited to private royal duties at Windsor Castle.
Covid Strikes Again, Royals Split on Andrew’s Role
The Duke of York missed the big Jubilee events earlier this month after testing positive for Covid, dashing plans for a public comeback. His last public outing was back in March, when he attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial alongside the Queen.
According to The Sunday Times, Andrew, a Knight of the Garter, will be present at a service in St George’s Chapel with senior royals. But The Sun reveals that both Prince Charles and Prince William pushed the Queen to restrict Andrew’s appearances. They feared a furious public backlash if Andrew featured too prominently. The Queen made the final call after the princes agreed on the strategy.
The Shadow of Epstein and Legal Battles Loom Large
Andrew’s reputation remains tarnished after his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prince faced a civil lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of assault as a teenager. Andrew has always denied the claims but settled out of court for millions.
Following the scandal, Andrew retreated from public life and was stripped of all honorary military roles and his HRH title by the Queen in January.
Will Andrew Regain Royal Status?
Rumours swirl that the Duke of York is pushing to restore his HRH status. But with public opinion still harsh, any comeback seems uphill. Buckingham Palace and Andrew’s representatives have stayed tight-lipped when approached for comment.
