Prince Charles played a major role in the huge scandal the royal family is now facing due to Prince Andrew's friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and car-crash interview on BBC Newsnight. The Duke of Wales showed his control in the monarchy, like a king in waiting, as he tried to clean the Firm's image, including summoning his younger brother to Sandringham for a "crisis lunch" to "read the riot act."
On the podcast Pod Save the Queen, host Anne Gripper and Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers talked about the crisis lunch that saw Prince Charles bringing Prince Andrew to Sandringham to see their father, Prince Philip. The heir to the throne sought the Duke of Edinburgh's counsel on the crisis that the royal family was facing, per Express.
Multiple reports revealed that Prince Andrew and Prince Philip had a showdown last week. Although no one believed it was going to happen, it happened.
Prince Charles was infuriated that Prince Andrew decided to give the interview and dragged the royal family's name through the mud. The Duke of York even overshadowed his recent royal tour, where he talked about all the critical issues, like climate change. His concerns were also looked out due to the royal scandal that started at the time.
According to The New York Times, Prince Andrew's BBC interview turned into a disaster when people saw that he didn't show any empathy for Jeffrey Epstein's teenage victims. He even gave "dubious defenses" on his own conduct.
Hence, Prince Charles called their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to ask her to strip his bother off of his public duties. Camilla Parker-Bowles' husband was said to be worried that the scandal would rapidly go downward spiral that it would affect Britain's general election.
Prince Charles has been reportedly pushing for a more streamlined royal family, where there will be fewer royal family members that will carry out official duties. By the looks of it, Prince Andrew's resignation is a sign that the shift that the future king is hoping for is now happening.
Several British papers seem to ask Prince Charles to take "de facto control" amidst Prince Andrew's controversy. The Times noted that the monarchy needed a firmer grip, and it could only come from Charles. Although he has a fair share of his issues, he already proved that he could play a greater role and do more, like a king-in-waiting.
