King Charles used Prince Andrew to 'send a very pointed message to Prince William'

Prince Andrew and Prince William

King used Andrew to 'send a very pointed message to William'

Getty
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 29/07/2024

- 13:07

The disgraced Duke of York joined the Royal Family for Christmas in 2022 and 2023

King Charles used Prince Andrew to "send a very pointed message to Prince William", a royal commentator has claimed.

The disgraced Duke of York, who stepped down from his official duties in 2019, joined the Royal Family for Christmas in 2022 and 2023.


In addition, the Duke and Duchess of York, who divorced in 1996, were photographed leading the Royal Family as they walked to the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece in February this year.

Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, both 64, were later included in the small circle of royals permitted to attend the Easter Sunday service at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

Prince Andrew and Prince WilliamKing used Andrew to 'send a very pointed message to William'Getty

Robert Jobson, a royal commentator, has written about the Yorks' resurgence in his new biography, Catherine, Princess of Wales.

He claimed Andrew and Fergie have been welcomed back so publicly into the royal fold for an important reason.

A senior figure in the royal household suggested to Jobson that by extending a hand to the Yorks, King Charles was trying to send William a "very pointed message" about Prince Harry.

They said: "Perhaps the King is subliminally trying to show William that forgiving one's brother and giving him a second chance is a strength, not a weakness.

\u200bPrince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson made a joint appearance at Sandringham last year

Getty

"Prince William disagrees – and as for his own brother, as far as he is concerned there is no way back."

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex publicly fell out in 2019 when Harry admitted to ITV reporter Tom Bradby that the brothers were on "different paths".

In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their positions as senior royals and moved to California.

The relationship between William and Harry has not seemed to improve in recent years.

William and Harry

Harry and William have a strained relationship which plummeted when the duke moved Stateside

Getty

King Charles and Prince Andrew

King Charles has seemingly allowed Andrew to appear with the royals in public

PA

In contrast, Prince Andrew and Sarah have been welcomed back at public family events, despite neither being working royals.

Under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, divorced members of the Royal Family would rarely make a public appearance at public gatherings.

This was evident as Fergie never attended the Sandringham royal walkabout on Christmas Day after her separation from the Duke of York in 1992, until this past December under the reign of King Charles III.

This was Sarah's first Christmas appearance with the Royal Family in over 30 years.

You may like