Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have lost his titles, his home and his place in royal life, but it’s unlikely the British royal family will cut him off completely, a royal commentator has claimed.
Historian and royal expert Rafe Heydel-Mankoo told GB News the former Duke of York’s current security situation has left the royal family in “an extremely uncomfortable position” as King Charles III tries to balance familial concern with the need to protect the monarchy.
Heydel-Mankoo said Mountbatten-Windsor “cannot be completely ostracized” and has been “kept at arm’s length” by the king, who stripped him of his titles last fall and pushed him out of his Crown Estate mansion earlier this year amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to predator Jeffrey Epstein.
“This situation is that it intersects family loyalty, public outrage, and then you’ve got the survival of the monarchy, so you have three competing elements there,” Heydel-Mankoo explained.
“It’s clear that his majesty and the rest of the royal family care about their brother, their uncle, their cousin. Despite everything that’s happened, he is part of their family, and there’s obviously always going to be concern for his well-being and for his security,” the commentator added. “But at the same time, the monarchy has to be protected, and he understands.”
Security fears
Concerns over the former Prince Andrew’s safety flared after he was allegedly confronted by a man wearing a balaclava on the evening of May 6 while walking his dogs near his home on the king’s privately owned Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England.
The suspect — who’s since pleaded not guilty after being charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior to harass someone or cause alarm or distress — allegedly yelled at the disgraced ex-royal from about 50 yards away.
GB News reported that Mountbatten-Windsor has not received taxpayer-funded security since 2019, when he was forced to step back as a senior working royal after giving a disastrous interview about his association with Epstein to the BBC’s Newsnight program.
These days, he reportedly relies on private protection paid for with money the king gives him to cover his expenses.
Royal reality check
Following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s February arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, King Charles III released a statement confirming authorities have his “full and wholehearted support” and insisting that “the law must take its course.” By: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Heydel-Mankoo believes Mountbatten-Windsor has struggled to accept the consequences of his royal downfall.
“Andrew’s always believed that he’s entitled to taxpayer-funded security and his titles and everything else,” the commentator told GB News. “It doesn’t appear that he still understands quite why he’s in the position he is in.
“But it’s quite clear that from the perspective of the royal family and for the monarchy, the privileges of protection are inseparable from public service and public legitimacy — and he’s lost both of those.”
The expert’s comments come as Mountbatten-Windsor continues to face fallout from his relationship with Epstein.
In February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice released emails suggesting he passed sensitive government documents to the disgraced financier while serving as Britain’s trade envoy. The investigation is ongoing.
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