At 93 years old, Queen Elizabeth is trying to hold Britain together as issues divide the people, such as Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum. She is also dealing with a crisis within her family with Prince Andrew's sex scandal, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's media struggles, and Prince William's rift with his brother.
According to insiders, it will definitely be a strange Christmas for the monarch as her royal problems are piling up. The source said that it's taking a toll on Her Majesty, so there is a huge concern for her well-being.
Queen Elizabeth was by herself as she went riding at Windsor Castle days after Prince Andrew's BBC interview aired. Sources said that she's under a lot of pressure for someone in her 90s, especially when this crisis feels like 1992 all over again.
That year, Prince Andrew and his wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, went their separate ways. Her Majesty's second child, Princess Anne, went through a divorce, and her eldest child, Prince Charles, was embroiled in a cheating scandal with Camilla, as Princess Diana revealed in public.
Royal experts said that it looks like the Queen is losing control of the family with how things are going today. She is, however, standing by Prince Andrew despite the backlash over his interview about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the imprisoned pedophile.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth continues to show her strength as she makes another royal appearance in London last Wednesday. Her Majesty was all smiles as she presented an award for environmentalist Sir David Attenborough.
Before that, Queen Elizabeth was with Prince Andrew as they went to church. Sources disclosed that the Duke of York told his mother he thought the interview went quite well.
However, the interview was heavily criticized as Prince Andrew only said his regrets for his ties with Epstein. He didn't show sympathy for the victims of the sex scandal.
Prince Andrew revealed on Wednesday that he asked permission from his mother to step back from his royal duties. According to CNN, Prince Andrew also consulted with Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and other advisers.
Sources said that they believe Prince Andrew's decision was the best for the institution. The Duke of York said that his association with Epstein was causing "a major disruption to my family's work."
The news comes as major organizations that have partnerships with the royal family for their valuable work hinted that they might cut ties if Prince Andrew was not removed as the patron.
