Any possibility of a Prince Andrew royal family return has been completely thrown away, following his most recent controversy.
Over the past few months, Prince Andrew, 64, has been once again at the centre of scandals, including that he became close friends with a Chinese spy. The businessman had reportedly been invited into some royal residences – including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. However, a rep for the Duke of York insisted the royal “ceased contact” with the businessman following advice from officials.
But now he has been branded an “entitled imbecile” who has no “redeeming grace” left. And if he thinks he can ever return to royal duties while King Charles is in charge, it seems he might be mistaken.
Prince Andrew stepped away from duties in 2019 after sexual assault scandal
King Charles’ brother stepped away from his royal duties in 2019 after Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexual assault – she was also an alleged victim of the late convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
Andrew denied all allegations, and the civil case was settled out of court in 2022. As a result, the prince paid an undisclosed sum to Giuffre and also lost his honorary military affiliations, and royal patronages.
However, since stepping away from the limelight, Andrew has remained living at the Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
He can never be rehabilitated whilst Charles is king.
But as the spy scandal brings him back into the public eye, the question of will we ever see Prince Andrew return as a working royal is on a lot of people’s minds. One royal commentator has given an insight…
Richard Fitzwilliams spoke exclusively to Royal Insider about the chance of Andrew ever returning to his royal duties. It seems he is convinced this will never happen.
Richard said: “There is no possibility of any return to royal duties of any sort by Andrew.” He added that the controversy surrounding him and the Chinese spy is an “embarrassment for the royal family”.
Andrew’s relationship with the public – and the royals – is so bad that Richard thinks only an occasion like a funeral will ever unite them.
He added to us: “He insists he is innocent of wrongdoing. And has not been found guilty of anything. But he has no public support. With the exception of a funeral, I cannot think of an occasion where he could make a public appearance with the rest of the royal family without causing outrage.”
Prince Andrew may ‘never’ make royal family return
While Andrew has apparently spent his time living his life as a ‘recluse’, avoiding being seen and barely leaving his grounds, Richard believes he could have done more to show his loyalty.
He said: “If he had any sense he would get a job helping with the royal estates. Or he could do some charitable work. But he has done neither.”
Richard added: “He is an entitled imbecile without a redeeming grace after he left the navy. If he cannot do something useful, he should realise that, on the basis of what we know now, he can never be rehabilitated whilst Charles is king. Or when William succeeds him.”
That being said, there is one thing Andrew is probably going to stick to – and that’s living at the Royal Lodge. The residence has caused its own controversy between Andrew and Charles, but it seems he has no intention of leaving.
Richard explained his presence there is likely because “he has a 75-year lease and money from somewhere”.
Andrew remains close with some members of his family, including ex-wife Sarah and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
But while they may be close with Andrew, it seems likely that they are the only ones who are.
