Despite ongoing tensions between Prince Andrew and King Charles III over the Duke of York's residence at Royal Lodge, insiders reveal that Andrew has remained "fiercely loyal" to his brother and the royal family. The rift between the siblings centers on Andrew's reluctance to vacate the Windsor estate, which has been his home for decades. While the feud has garnered significant media attention, those close to Andrew insist he has refrained from criticizing the King or speaking negatively about other family members.
A source close to Andrew told The Sun, "I have never heard him say anything negative about his brother or indeed any member of his family. It's just not something he would do." The Duke, who has been embroiled in controversy and public scandals in recent years, remains firm in his commitment to staying at Royal Lodge. He reportedly plans to pass the lease on to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, upon his death. With 54 years remaining on the lease, Andrew intends to honor the terms of the agreement.
While Andrew has not publicly criticized King Charles, reports suggest that his personality and behavior behind closed doors have not always been viewed favorably by those who worked with him. Descriptions of the Duke as "rude" and "pampered" have surfaced in past interviews and reports. In one instance, an undercover journalist at Buckingham Palace recalled a footman greeting Andrew with "Good morning, Your Royal Highness," to which the Duke allegedly responded with a profane retort. Journalist Valentine Low reported that Andrew once shouted at a royal aide, telling them to "F*** off out of my office and f*** off out of my life."
Andrew's fall from grace came in 2019 following his disastrous BBC interview with Emily Maitlis about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Intended to clear his name, the interview only worsened public opinion, and he was soon relieved of his royal duties indefinitely. A close aide of Andrew reflected on the Duke's downfall, saying, "He's become a pantomime figure, and I understand why. He painted an easy target on his back and, for the most part, didn't even realize it-or if he did, he didn't care."
The aide also pointed to Andrew's upbringing as a factor that may have contributed to his behavior. "He comes from an era where he was the Queen's son, for God's sake. He was lauded and applauded. People bowed and scraped for decades. That's got to affect your ego, and I suspect he probably thought he was bulletproof." Despite his tarnished public image, Andrew continues to reside at Royal Lodge, where he reportedly spends most of his time.
King Charles Faces New Embarrassment Amid Prince Andrew Scandals
As King Charles III navigates the complexities of his reign, a new controversy surrounding his younger brother, Prince Andrew, has surfaced. The release of A Very Royal Scandal, a three-part Amazon Prime Video series, revisits the infamous 2019 BBC interview in which Andrew attempted to explain his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The series, which explores the lead-up to and aftermath of the interview, has reportedly left the royal family, particularly King Charles, in an uncomfortable position.
Royal insiders suggest that the King is keen to avoid further embarrassment from the ongoing public scrutiny of his brother's past. Veteran royal correspondent Jennie Bond noted, "It's bound to be a further embarrassment for all concerned. Andrew really is the problem that refuses to go away." The series has renewed interest in Andrew's actions and the fallout that followed, much to the dismay of the monarchy.
Interestingly, Andrew himself reportedly hosted a watch party for the Amazon series at his residence, Royal Lodge. While it remains unclear which members of the royal family attended the viewing, one thing is certain: King Charles was not among them. Bond added, "I don't imagine the King will watch it, but he will be made aware of its contents and any repercussions, I'm sure."
Andrew's feelings toward the series have reportedly shifted in recent weeks. Initially described as "excited" to watch the show, sources close to the Duke now say he is "depressed" and anxious about the project's release. A friend of Andrew stated, "You have to remember that he absolutely insists he has no memory of ever meeting [Virginia Giuffre] and denies having sex with her. He has never been found guilty of anything."
The new series arrives just months after Netflix's Scoop, another program that covered the same material, leaving some viewers puzzled about the necessity of another production. Emily Maitlis, who conducted the original interview, remarked that the Amazon series would be "a very different beast" and suggested that there was room for both portrayals.
Amid Andrew's ongoing scandals, King Charles is also reportedly dealing with another family challenge: frequent phone calls from his youngest son, Prince Harry. According to broadcaster Helena Chard, "All royal family members want to be sure that their conversations remain private. King Charles is thoroughly fed up with Prince Harry assuming that he can manage his security requests. He will not be available 24/7 for Prince Harry's demands."
