{"id":2292780,"date":"2026-02-21T16:06:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T16:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2292780"},"modified":"2026-02-21T16:06:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T16:06:42","slug":"its-up-to-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-to-rebuild-royals-integrity-after-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-scandal-pr-expert-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/its-up-to-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-to-rebuild-royals-integrity-after-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-scandal-pr-expert-says\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s up to Prince William and Kate Middleton to rebuild royals\u2019 integrity after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal, PR expert says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveIndyHeadlinesNews\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM fafQAy\">Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM fvWmZq\">Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM hkVmms\">Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/morningHeadlines1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Morning Headlines\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Prince and Princess of Wales face taking on the of rebuilding the \u201cintegrity of the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/royal-family\">royal family<\/a>\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/crime\/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-misconduct-epstein-charles-latest-b2924086.html\" title=\"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor latest: Starmer considering law to remove former prince from line of succession\">damaged by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor<\/a>\u2019s relationship with convicted paedophile <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/jeffrey-epstein\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, a PR expert has said.<\/p>\n<p>Future monarchs William and Kate will need to make their vision for the institution, now in what some have suggested is its worst crisis for 90 years, clear in order to rebuild public trust.<\/p>\n<p>It comes after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-charles-b2924858.html\" title=\"How the royal family is weathering its worst crisis in 90 years\">Andrew\u2019s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office<\/a> on Thursday following the Epstein scandal that simmered for years.<\/p>\n<p>Public relations and crisis consultant\u00a0Mark\u00a0Borkowski said the couple faced the question of \u201chow do they establish the integrity of the royal family?\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cReally, what do William and Kate do? What do their generation do with the crown, with all its soft power, its affairs of state, it\u2019s beginning to feel a little bit like a European monarchy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pressure on William to communicate what the royal family is going to be over the next 50 years falls squarely on his shoulders. The heavy weight of this burden on the royal family\u2019s reputation lies with William and Kate and what they\u2019re going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 bldyfE\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/bd2694ed92de65ca680f25242f98257eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg4MTkz-2.82654087.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/bd2694ed92de65ca680f25242f98257eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg4MTkz-2.82654087.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/bd2694ed92de65ca680f25242f98257eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg4MTkz-2.82654087.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"William and Kate will need to rebuild the \u2018integrity\u2019 of the institution as future monarchs\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-148087\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">William and Kate will need to rebuild the \u2018integrity\u2019 of the institution as future monarchs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/prince-william-kate-middleton-royal-family-apple-eugene-levy-b2838458.html\">William has already said \u201cchange is on my agenda\u201d<\/a> when he comes to the throne.<\/p>\n<p>However, he may have to open himself and the monarchy up to greater scrutiny as long-held attitudes towards the royal family die out.<\/p>\n<p>The couple have been in lockstep with the King\u2019s decisions to distance the royal family from Andrew.<\/p>\n<p>Charles <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/prince-andrew-title-stripped-king-charles-b2860015.html\">stripped his brother of his titles<\/a> in 2025, and then <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/home-news\/prince-andrew-arrest-king-charles-statement-b2923594.html\">issued an emphatic statement <\/a>a few hours after his arrest on Thursday which stated \u201cthe law must take its course\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 jFiUbX\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/6db3d7906ecdea58a7a0ace0e99c9ee2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MDc0-2.80649808.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/6db3d7906ecdea58a7a0ace0e99c9ee2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MDc0-2.80649808.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/6db3d7906ecdea58a7a0ace0e99c9ee2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MDc0-2.80649808.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Prince and Princess of Wales face inheriting a monarchy mired by scandal\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-148088\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">The Prince and Princess of Wales face inheriting a monarchy mired by scandal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Public opinion is all-important, with the authority of the monarchy ultimately founded on the support and goodwill of ordinary men and women.<\/p>\n<p>The deference towards members of the monarchy, who live in palaces, are chauffeured to events and have personal fortunes, has persisted for centuries and arguably helps sustain them.<\/p>\n<p>Broadcaster <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/david-dimbleby\">David Dimbleby<\/a>, who recently presented the BBC documentary series <em>What\u2019s the Monarchy For? <\/em>some members of the royal family \u201cbehave like people who are spoiled by entitlement\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 jpKpUA\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/12df61f18781de9cb9201b6b40fd98bcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MTQ5-2.77675921.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/12df61f18781de9cb9201b6b40fd98bcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MTQ5-2.77675921.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/02\/21\/02\/12df61f18781de9cb9201b6b40fd98bcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcxNjg5MTQ5-2.77675921.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Broadcaster David Dimbleby said some members of the firm \u2018behave like people who are spoiled by entitlement\u2019\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-0 dkRtZs inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-148089\"><span class=\"sc-1uf4o3q-1 hwVecx\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">Broadcaster David Dimbleby said some members of the firm \u2018behave like people who are spoiled by entitlement\u2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Speaking on BBC Radio 4\u2019s <em>World At One <\/em>programme on Friday, he added: \u201cNot all of them, Princess Anne, a paragon of virtue, wonderful, it\u2019s not universal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut they\u2019re lost in that world, nobody\u2019s saying \u2018come on pull yourselves together, do this, do that\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The events of the past few days could see MPs and peers formally discussing the issues around Andrew\u2019s friendship with convicted paedophile <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/jeffrey-epstein\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Labour peer Lord Foulkes told <em>World at One<\/em>:\u00a0\u201cI think there is now a clear expectation that there ought to be much more scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The politician said he has contacted MP <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/liam-byrne\">Liam Byrne<\/a>, chairman of the Business and Trade Commons Select Committee to \u201clook\u201d into Andrew\u2019s work as a trade envoy but conceded it may be difficult now the police are investigating.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.independent.co.uk \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email The Prince and Princess of Wales face taking on the of rebuilding the \u201cintegrity of the royal family\u201d damaged by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor\u2019s relationship with convicted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2292781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2292780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-royalty"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Its-up-to-Prince-William-and-Kate-Middleton-to-rebuild-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2292780"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2292782,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2292780\/revisions\/2292782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2292781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2292780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2292780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2292780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}