The sight of Prince Andrew grinning in his place of pride showed what a problem the royal family has, says RICHARD EDEN. It’s time to remove him from the line of succession – and Prince Harry too…
Prince Andrew’s prominent presence at this week’s memorial service in Windsor was a vivid reminder of the problems now facing the royal family.
And emphasized how untenable the prince’s position has become.
That is the view of Richard Eden, writing in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential Newsletter.
With King Charles and Kate on their periods for health reasons, Prince Harry unavailable and Prince William unexpectedly absent, Prince Andrew found himself in the front row of the thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of Greece on Tuesday.
Prince Andrew appears pleased to take the lead as members of the royal family attend the memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece
Disgraced or not, he was the highest royal in the line of succession to attend the service.
It was a vivid illustration of the Windsors’ predicament, Eden says, and should spur the king into action: both Andrew and Harry should be removed from their positions as heirs to the throne.
“The royal family has a problem,” Eden writes.
‘King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, was not present and the heir apparent, Prince William, withdrew at very short notice due to an unspecified ‘personal matter’ as a lesson.
‘With Prince Harry in California, the Duke of York had to take a very prominent pew in St. George’s Chapel. And boy, did Andrew seem like he enjoyed being the center of attention again.
‘He looked happy as punch and was even pictured grinning inappropriately as he made his way to join other mourners for the former Greek monarch.
‘There is of course no reason that Andrew should not have attended the service. Like other royals from all over Europe, he was invited by Constantine’s family.
But Andrew’s prominence, in the absence of King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales, draws attention to his untenable status – and that of his cousin Harry.
Prince Andrew was in the front row next to the Duchess and Duke of Gloucester. Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are behind the Gloucesters
The king’s younger brother is no longer a working royal, but he remains a state advisor and may be asked to perform some of the king’s duties in an emergency. He is eighth in line to the throne
Richard Eden says it is time for the monarchy to act and remove Princes Andrew and Harry from the line of succession. Neither is a working royal family
‘Neither are working members of ‘The Firm’, yet they both remain State Advisors who could replace the Monarch and retain their places in the line of succession: fifth in Harry’s case and eighth in Andrew’s.
“This must be addressed immediately: they should both be stripped of their roles as state advisors and lose their place in line for the throne.”
To read more of Richard’s expert Royal commentary, click here