Prince Andrew’s coat of arms banner removed at Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle officials have taken a drastic move usually reserved for cases of high treason amid mounting pressure on Buckingham Palace’s response to disgraced Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew’s banner featuring his coat of arms has been removed at Windsor Castle - a move that only happens in cases of high treason or taking arms up against the Crown.

The flag, raised in 2006 when Andrew was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter, would normally hang next to Prince William’s inside St George’s Chapel.

It is differentiated from the other flags by a three-point silver label, the central point of which bears a blue anchor - a nod to Andrew’s naval career.

Photos show the banner on display on Saturday but removed on Wednesday after giving up his titles, including the order and the Duke of York, under growing pressure over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew's banner featuring his Coat of Arms, second from left, featuring a blue anchor. Picture: Ian Whittaker

The flag has been removed from Windsor Castle. Picture: Ian Whittaker

WILLIAM TAKES CONTROL OF SCANDAL RESPONSE

Prince William is said to be “taking control” of Buckingham Palace’s response to Andrew’s scandal following mounting criticism of its slow dealings to the disgraced royal.

“William is on it,” a British government source told BBC Newsnight, as the future King considers the future of the monarchy, amid cabinet unease over the Palace’s response to the situation.

The tension between Prince Andrew and Prince William was palpable at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral last month. Picture: WireImage

ANDREW HAD ‘NETWORK OF STAFF ARRANGE GIRLS’

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Prince Andrew had a network of staff to “arrange girls” for him — with a preference for ballerinas and blondes, his biographer has claimed.

The disgraced former duke urged everyone around him to find women he could date — leading to him sleeping with women “he didn’t realise were prostitutes,” writer Andrew Lownie claimed.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell in the infamous photo that is said to have been taken in London in 2001. Picture: AFP

Even his personal protection officers, paid for by the British tax payer, were involved, Lownie writes in his new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.

“He would spy out an attractive ballerina at the Royal Ballet and then send his (PPO) … to invite her to meet the prince. Other variations included sending aides to invite girls to his table at (London nightclub) Chinawhite or come to his hotel suite when abroad,” said Lownie.

The author also noted that “Andrew’s staff often requested that attractive women be invited to events, with a private secretary specifying, “He likes blondes’ — to which one consul replied, “I’m a diplomat, not a pimp.”

Prince Andrew plays golf with former US president Bill Clinton in 1999.

UK PM BACKS INQUIRY INTO ANDREW’S TAXPAYER-FUNDED LIFE

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would support an inquiry into Prince Andrew’s tenancy at the Royal Lodge after it was revealed he hasn’t paid rent in 22 years.

Earlier this week The Times UK got hold of a copy of Andrew’s lease on the 30 room Windsor mansion he has shared with his ex-wife Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson since 2003.

It showed that while the prince had paid a fee to establish the lease and footed the bill for renovations, he was only required to pay a “peppercorn” in rent if asked.

This term refers to a very small symbolic sum of money.

Britain's Prince Andrew speaks with King Charles as they leave Westminster Cathedral after the Duchess of Ken’s funeral in London last month. Picture: Reuters

Sir Keir was asked about the matter during Prime Minister’s Questions by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.

“Given the revelations about the Royal Lodge, does the prime minister agree that this House needs to properly scrutinise the crown estate to ensure taxpayers’ interests are protected?” Sir Ed asked.

“The chancellor (of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves) herself has said that the current arrangements are wrong, so will the prime minister support a select committee inquiry so all those involved can be called for evidence – including the current occupant?”

Activists from the antimonarchy group Republic, stage a protest at the gates to royal lodge where Prince Andrew lives. Picture: Getty Images

Sir Keir responded affirmatively.

“It’s important in relation to all crown properties that there is proper scrutiny, I certainly support that,” he said.

While British taxpayers don’t directly fund the Royal Lodge, Andrew’s arrangement does impact them indirectly.

The mansion is part of the crown estate, the profits from which are given over to Treasury.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s posthumous memoir has detailed a devastating life at the hands of men like sex trafficker and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Picture: AFP

Therefore, the lack of rent is depriving taxpayers of those funds.

King Charles has reportedly been trying to get his brother to leave the property for years but has stopped short of evicting him.

The Royal Lodge debate comes on top of renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after the posthumous publication of Andrew’s Australian-based accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl.

Ms Giuffre accused both the royal and the late disgraced financier of abusing her.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing against Ms Giuffre, who took her own life in Western Australia in April.

- with the New York Post