Prince William Plans to Exclude Prince Andrew from Royal Duties as Future King
Prince William is reportedly aware of how he will address his uncle Prince Andrew’s ongoing issues once he ascends to the throne.
As reported by The Times of London on Sunday, October 19, William, 43, plans to completely exclude Andrew, 65, from “all aspects of royal life” when he becomes King. This prohibition will also extend to private gatherings, according to the report.
“When William is King, Andrew will be barred from all aspects of royal life,” the outlet indicated, citing sources from Buckingham Palace. “He will be excluded from both public and private royal events, including the coronation and most state occasions.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Kensington Palace for a statement.
While Andrew has been permitted to join “family occasions” with other royals — including Christmas visits at Sandringham — William reportedly perceives Andrew as a “threat” and “a reputational risk to the monarchy.” He is said to be worried about the implications of Andrew’s presence at royal events for victims of sexual abuse.
William is also expected to prevent Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, from attending the same gatherings.
On Friday, October 17, Andrew announced his choice to relinquish his royal title amidst an ongoing investigation concerning his relationship with the late convicted pedophile and sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.
“In discussions with The King and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded that the ongoing accusations against me interfere with the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said in a statement to Us on Friday. “I’ve decided, as I always have, to prioritize my duty to my family and country. I stand by my decision from five years ago to step back from public life.”
The statement added, “With His Majesty’s consent, we have determined I must now take an additional step. Therefore, I will no longer utilize my title or the honors that have been bestowed upon me. As previously stated, I vigorously deny the allegations against me.”
William is said to have been involved in the discussions leading up to Andrew’s announcement.
“Prince William has been urging his father the King to take action against Andrew for years,” Christopher Andersen, a royal expert and author of Brothers and Wives, told Us Weekly on Friday. “The Epstein sex abuse scandal continues to loom large — the royals are anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop as the files are released.”
According to Andersen, Prince Andrew had grown used to being the favorite of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. However, since her passing in 2022, Andersen noted in Us that “it has become clear to Andrew that he might really be cast out of the royal family entirely.”
“His titles, privilege, and status were important to him,” Andersen elaborated. “But all that has been stripped away over the years, and now he’s barely maintaining his position. What matters most to Prince Andrew these days are the comforts — holding onto Royal Lodge, his lavish home at Windsor, having a private staff, and maintaining a plush lifestyle.”
He further commented, “While his reputation is in shambles, I believe he has reached a point where the material comforts are his primary concern. Charles was about to revoke Andrew’s Duke of York title, prompting Andrew to take the preemptive measure of renouncing it himself.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
