Disgraced Prince Andrew has dramatically pulled out of a public appearance at Windsor Castle today – despite claims that he is pushing for a return to royal duties.
The Duke of York is said to have lobbied the Queen for his former status to be restored and to be allowed back to official events. He also wants his ceremonial role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards reinstated.
Andrew, 62, was stripped of his official duties at the start of the year as he prepared to pay a multi-million-pound settlement to Virginia Giuffre to keep her allegations of sexual abuse, which he denies, out of court.
But last night, the duke – who missed the Jubilee celebrations a week ago because he had Covid – dramatically pulled out of today’s Order of the Garter ceremony, despite being a member of the ancient order of chivalry.
In a last-minute U-turn, the prince backed out of attending public aspects of the annual ceremony at Windsor. He will still attend a private lunch with the Queen and other members of the order.
Buckingham Palace had insisted that Andrew would attend the ceremony, because the honour was given to him in a personal capacity by the Queen.
But behind the scenes there was deep concern about the spectacle of the shamed prince walking in his robes in public. There were also fears he could be booed.
Charles and William were said to have blocked Andrew from appearing at today’s Order of the Garter ceremony after lobbying the Queen, according to The Sun.
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SOURCE: Daily Mail, Neil Sears, Rebecca English, and Jonathan Rose
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