<\/p>\n
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had a \u201cphysical altercation\u201d with one of Elizabeth II\u2019s most senior aides, it has been claimed.<\/p>\n
The former Duke of York was accused of lashing out at Vice-Adml Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, master of the household, allegedly because he could not accommodate a Pitch@Palace event at Buckingham Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n His behaviour was considered so concerning that his late father, Prince Philip, reportedly felt obliged to write a letter of apology to Sir Tony.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a routine household matter,\u201d a senior member of staff told Robert Hardman, a royal author.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Duke wanted to have a reception, and there wasn\u2019t any room. It was as simple as that.<\/p>\n \u201cTony said he\u2019d have to wait his turn like anybody else, and the Duke<\/a> went for him.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Mr Hardman, it was \u201cnot just an outburst of expletives and a jab of a finger\u201d but what one member of staff described as a \u201ckinetic\u201d blow, which caused astonishment within the royal household.<\/p>\n The alleged incident is described in Mr Hardman\u2019s latest book, Elizabeth II, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sir Tony has been master of the household since 2013 and remains in the position working for the King.<\/p>\n The retired naval officer was among the senior members of staff who led the ceremonial procession out of Buckingham Palace during the late Queen\u2019s funeral in September 2022, performing one last duty for \u201cthe boss\u201d.<\/p>\n His department handles official and private entertaining across all the royal residences, running teams that span hospitality, catering and housekeeping, from florists and upholsterers to specialist craftspeople and caterers.<\/p>\n Sir Tony is said to have reported the altercation with the former Duke to the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Peel, who raised it with the then Prince Charles, who in turn spoke to his brother.<\/p>\n The Lord Chamberlain then received a call from an unapologetic Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who is alleged to have said: \u201cI gather you\u2019ve been calling people and causing problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Hardman describes a different incident in Windsor, when grooms from the Royal Mews had been riding some of the late Queen\u2019s horses on the estate.<\/p>\n \u201cOne had waved a firm hand at an approaching car which was revving its engine aggressively,\u201d he writes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt pulled alongside and, through the window, the Duke of York bellowed at her: \u2018Who the f— do you think you are?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The former Duke is said to have demanded her name before taking it up with the late Queen in person.<\/p>\n The book also describes the \u201ccold fury\u201d within the royal household that the former Duke had gone against all internal advice to record the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview<\/a> in the palace.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone in his office had been told that this should not happen,\u201d a senior aide was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n Lord Peel added: \u201cThe Duke had an overriding belief that he was better than the rest of us. His self-confidence and entitlement was off the scale.\u201d<\/p>\nFomer Duke \u2018was unapologetic\u2019<\/h2>\n
Late Queen \u2018very down\u2019 over resignation letter<\/h2>\n