Prince Andrew caused a stir with a "forceful" gesture at St George's Chapel in Windsor when he overtook the Dean of Windsor in the procession behind King Charles and Queen Camilla.
His body language and positioning raised eyebrows among royal watchers.
Royal commentator Robert Hardman noted that once the King and Queen had entered the chapel, "the Duke of York then stepped immediately behind them in the procession, overtaking the man in charge, the Dean of Windsor, the Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth".
"Here was a forceful reminder that, in this company at least, the Duke was first in the line of succession," Hardman told the Mail.
Prince Andrew sparks backlash with ‘forceful’ move in William’s absence
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As Prince William and Princess Kate were absent from the Easter Sunday service, Prince Andrew was the most senior royal present in the procession.
The gesture was widely interpreted as Andrew attempting to assert his dominance during the service.
Body language expert Judi James observed that Andrew exhibited a "kind of cocky arrogance" during the service.
"Prince Andrew's body language made this look like his debutante's coming out ball as he performed a kind royal quick-step to appear back in the role of second son to the late Queen," she said.
Prince Andrew could be seen rushing inside the chapel before the Dean of Windsor
GB News.
James noted that Andrew positioned himself "in the gap in the middle of the group" with "his legs splayed in a pose of confidence".
Andrew has largely remained out of the public eye since his withdrawal from royal duties in 2019, following his disastrous televised interview about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Since then, he has only been permitted to appear at family occasions such as Easter, Christmas, weddings and funerals.
His attendance at the Easter service marked his first public appearance with the Royal Family since the same event in 2024.
Princess Kate and Prince William spent Easter in Norfolk with their children
PAAndrew was accompanied at the service by his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, who displayed "newfound signals of royal confidence" according to James.
His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, along with their husbands, were also present at the Windsor gathering.
Reports suggest Andrew's attendance came as a surprise to many, particularly following a scandal last year linking him with an alleged Chinese spy.
Fergie and Prince Andrew snubbed from royal Easter pictures as King draws clear line.Getty.It remains uncertain whether Andrew will make more public appearances in the future, as questions over his role within the Royal Family persist.
The Duke's dramatic entrance and positioning during the Easter service have reignited discussions about his place in royal proceedings.
While permitted at select family occasions, his future involvement in public royal duties appears limited following his removal from official responsibilities.
