Prince Andrew was left ”crushed and confused” at being barred from Garter Day having thought he had been given the green light to attend, claimed a royal expert.
Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie also said that the royals’ “reluctance to completely remove Prince Andrew” is damaging and “reflects terribly on the family”.
The Duke of York was forced to remain out of sight during the Garter Day procession after a "family decision" was taken to limit his appearance to a behind-the-scenes lunch and investiture ceremony.
As the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and other senior royals went through the grounds of Windsor Castle for a church service commemorating the Order of the Garter, Andrew stayed behind closed doors.
But Andrew thought that he was going to take part in the Windsor Castle procession until the Queen delivered the news to him that he could not take part in the parade in front of the world’s media.
It was a last minute call to stop Andrew attending with the Queen willing to listen to the opinions of Charles and William who ruled out his presence, said a Telegraph source.
And now Mr Scobie has revealed that Andrew was upset by the news.
He claimed, in his Yahoo News column, that the Duke of York was “crushed… (and) a little confused.”
He said that the way Andrew was allowed to walk with the Queen at Prince Philip ’s memorial service, as well as attend some of the Jubilee events, shows the reluctance of the royals to cut him off entirely.
Mr Scobie said: “Every chance Prince Andrew is given to try and rehabilitate his image is a step closer to further damage and shame for the institution of the monarchy. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
The occasion laid bare the Royal Family's problem - what formal role, if any, can Andrew play after his reputation was severely tarnished by his involvement in a civil sexual assault case.
And it also exposed the internal struggle between senior members of the Royal Family and the Duke's reported desire to be reinstated as a working royal.
Around 4,500 spectators within the castle walls watched the colourful procession of Garter Knight and Ladies dressed in blue velvet mantles, red velvet hoods, black velvet hats and white ostrich plumes.
The Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348 recognising contributions to public service.
Members of the Order include the Queen, several senior royals and 24 other Knights or Ladies, who are personally chosen by the monarch for recognition of their work.
