As conversations within the UK government ramp up around removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of royal succession, it’s emerged that Prince William had been pushing for that very outcome as far back as last year.
The Times UK reports that the Prince of Wales has been frustrated by the delay in cutting his disgraced 66-year-old uncle from his position as eighth in line to the throne.
In the wake of Andrew’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month, it was reported that the government is considering legislation to make his axing from succession official, although it would occur once police investigations had concluded – which, as government sources told the Times, could take “years”.
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Last October, the King released a statement announcing his intention to strip his brother of his titles, including prince, and evict him from Royal Lodge. At the time, it was reported that the King was reluctant to push the matter further in giving the government the green light to move on Andrew’s place in succession. However, shortly before his arrest in February, royal sources told The Sunday Times that the Palace “wouldn’t argue” if politicians took action.
According to The Times, William was keen to get the process underway back when Andrew’s titles were stripped, and had privately vented his frustration that it was not resolved at the time.
William has spoken publicly on the scandal involving Andrew only once, releasing a joint statement with the Princess of Wales via a Kensington Palace spokesman just hours ahead of his Saudi Arabia visit last month.
“I can confirm that the prince and princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,” the spokesman said.
Despite the Wales’ attempt to distance themselves from the drama, William was still confronted with questions about the former Duke of York just hours later as he toured a sports centre in Riyadh as part of his diplomatic visit to the Middle East.
“Sir, to what extent do you think the Royal Family has done enough around the Andrew and Epstein issue?” the journalist called out in footage shared online.
When William didn’t answer, the question was repeated, although it again did not elicit a response. It’s not clear whether or not he actually heard the reporter.
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The ongoing scandal surrounding Andrew has continued to deepen in recent weeks following the release of millions of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
Andrew has vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
It’s previously been widely reported that there is no love lost between William and his uncle, with allegations that the heir to the throne had attempted to have Andrew cut off from royal life long before his recent public fall from grace.
William reportedly demanded that Andrew be removed from official duties “before the rot set in” after details of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein were made public, according to the new biography, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story.
It’s claimed that William considered his uncle to be lacking in value to the monarchy and “a bit of an ignoramus”.
“He’d seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they’d never seen eye-to-eye,” royal author Russell Myers wrote.
“William has a relationship with his cousins [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie] … so he takes no umbrage with them, but there’s no love lost for Andrew or Sarah.
“In an alternate dimension, Andrew probably thought there would be a way back into public life if the scandal or the headlines died down, but it would have always had to be while his brother was King. William didn’t think either of them [Andrew or Sarah] should be anywhere near the family, publicly or otherwise, but he was overruled by his father.”
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