PRINCE Andrew will be banished from public view on Garter Day after the monarchy made a “family decision” to limit the disgraced Duke of York’s appearances – though he will still be involved in the major royal event.
Andrew will not be seen during Garter Day, one of the most colourful events in the royal calendar, after the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge reportedly lobbied the Queen about his participation.
The duke’s reputation has been wrecked by his involvement in a civil sexual assault case, and it is understood a “family decision” was taken to reduce his involvement to a lunch and investiture ceremony for new Order of the Garter recipients, both held behind closed doors.
The Queen had signalled her support for Andrew – rumoured to be her favourite child – by arriving with him for the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March.
Andrew aided the Queen as she walked into Westminster Abbey to remember the life of her husband, a few weeks after he reached a multimillion-pound out-of-court settlement in a civil sexual assault case.
But there has been speculation senior members of the royal family did not approve of his appearance and it appears the Queen has conceded to their views regarding Garter Day staged at Windsor Castle.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Duke of York will attend the investiture and lunch today but will not be part of the procession or service.”
It follows reports that Andrew may be sent to Scotland as he looks to “rebuild his life in a different direction”.
On Sunday, the Mail reported that “secret talks” had been going on at Windsor involving the Queen focusing on Andrew’s future – and it was suggested that his next steps may involve moving north.
The Queen will not be taking part in the procession of Garter Knights who walk through the grounds of Windsor Castle to St George’s Hall where the annual service commemorating the Order is held.
Given the monarch’s mobility issues the decision was expected and in past years she has travelled by car to the place of worship.
But the Queen is expected to attend the lunch and the investiture ceremony.
The news came as it was claimed Andrew wanted a return to something approaching his former status as a working member of the royal family.
On Sunday, the Telegraph quoted an unnamed source as saying: “The colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards was his most coveted title and he wants it back. Having remained a Counsellor of State, he also believes he should be included at royal and state events.
“Most importantly for him is his status as an HRH and ‘Prince of the Blood’ and he feels that should be reinstated and his position recognised and respected.”
The Queen’s second son stepped away from public life after the furore over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, He reportedly paid £12 million to settle the civil sexual assault case, to a woman he claimed never to have met.
The duke was cast out of the working monarchy after Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
Andrew denied the claims.
In January, ahead of his legal settlement in the case, the Queen stripped Andrew of his honorary military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and he gave up his HRH style.
He had been set to join the wider royal family at a service of thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral on the second of the four-day Jubilee celebrations earlier this month but ahead of the ceremony it was announced that he had caught coronavirus.
During Monday’s service, the Duchess of Cornwall will be installed as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.
Meanwhile, a protest is expected in Windsor amid opposition to former prime minister Sir Tony Blair being appointed to the oldest and most senior British Order of Chivalry.
It was announced in December that the former Labour leader was to be appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter – the highest possible ranking.
More than 1.5 million signatures were gathered on a petition calling for the knighthood to be “rescinded”, claiming he was the “least deserving person of any public honour” and that he should be “held accountable for war crimes”.
Blair was prime minister during the Allied military invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Stop the War said activists will gather at the Queen Victoria statue outside the castle on Monday in protest at Blair’s appointment.
Also on Monday, Baroness Valerie Amos will be appointed Lady Companion of the Order.
The Labour member of the House of Lords, who was the first black person to become a cabinet member, will now also be the first black person appointed Lady Companion of the Order.
