PRINCE Andrew played a central role at his mother Queen Elizabeth’s funeral alongside the rest of the Royal Family.
He followed the Queen’s coffin as it was taken from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey on Monday morning alongside his siblings King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips – Anne’s son – also followed behind.
He also sat right beside her coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey.
The Earl of Inverness – who served in the Falklands War – wore his military medals on his chest but was not allowed to wear full military dress given he is no longer a working member of the Royal Family.
Andrew – who was thought to have been close to his mother - had his honorary military titles stripped earlier this year by the Queen following sexual assault allegations.
He stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and gave up his HRH style.
He went on to pay millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to a woman he claimed never to have met.
Virginia Giuffre sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein. Andrew denied the claims.
Ahead of the funeral, he said in a statement it had been an “honour and privilege” to serve the Queen and he would “forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love and gratitude”.
He is set to remain as Counsellor of State following his mother’s death, meaning he can step in for King Charles III in the event he is unable to undertake official duties.
Last week, more than 6000 people signed a petition calling for Andrew to lose his Earl of Inverness title.
