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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Bev Lyons

Lorraine Kelly puzzled by Queen's decision to be escorted by Prince Andrew at Philip memorial

Lorraine Kelly admitted she was puzzled by The Queen's decision to be escorted by Prince Andrew at a memorial service for Prince Philip.

Prince Andrew has not seen seen publicly since settling out of court for millions of pounds in a civil sexual assault case last month.

The Duke of York was by the Queens side from Windsor Castle to Westminster Abbey, and accompanied his mum to her seat then took his own in the front row.

Lorraine questioned the decision behind the move on her telly show, suggesting it was poor PR.

She said: "Right up until the last minute we didn’t know whether she [the Queen] was going to make it.

“It was fantastic that she was well enough to go. But, lots of people are saying, ‘Why did she have Andrew escorting her in."

The Queen was accompanied by prince Andrew on the day (AFP via Getty Images)

“What’s going on here?”

As she described Prince Andrew as ‘very much the past’, Lorraine spoke with royal expert Russell Myers, who said it was ‘unfortunate’ for Prince Andrew to be associated with Prince Philip's service.

She agreed that Princess Anne would have been better accompanying The Queen.

Lorraine asked: ‘Who is advising them?’

"They need somebody who really knows what they’re doing and has got a common touch perhaps, and that knows what goes down well and what doesn’t.

"They should know that though!"

Others believe Prince Andrew’s appearance was tactical.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: ‘It didn’t happen by chance. He could have sat in the congregation with others, with his relatives, but they actively decided that he would have this role of supporting her.

‘So she has chosen, in essence, to remind people that he hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing, he’s not guilty of anything, he’s innocent. And she’s very clearly stating that he has a role at family occasions.’

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