King Charles’ one big fear about Prince Andrew’s return to royal life
Prince Andrew may be back in the royal fold, but King Charles has one huge concern about the disgraced Duke’s future plans.
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Prince Andrew may be back in the royal fold, but King Charles remains adamant that his disgraced younger brother cannot return to his previous public duties amid fears of a public backlash.
In a major sign that relations between senior royals are thawing, the Duke of York is staying at Balmoral along with other family members and was photographed being driven to church with Prince William and Princess Catherine.
Prince Andrew is believed to be intent on returning to his previous public duties after being forced to step down from royal life due to has controversial BBC TV interview and his previous links with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
However, sources told the UK’s Telegraph that while Prince Andrew is still a “much-loved” family member, senior royals remain opposed to any changes to his public status.
“The King is absolutely resolute that there can be no return to public duties for the Duke of York,” one person said, according to the Telegraph.
“He has always been clear that the Duke is a much-loved member of the family, but that does not mean there will be a change in tack when it comes to his royal status.”
The King and Prince Andrew have met several times in the last year to sort a plan to give the Duke a purpose and the younger brother offered to manage one or more of the royal states, The Telegraph reports.
Any attempts to change up his royal life would remain behind closed doors because King Charles knows the type of backlash that would come from publicly endorsing a comeback for his younger brother, it is reported.
Royal experts say Prince Andrew is slowly being reintegrated into the royal family after the scandal of his previous friendship with Epstein.
The first step was the Balmoral invitation itself, his first trip to the Scottish estate since his mother’s death in September last year.
“It’s his brother King Charles reaching out to him and bringing him back in,” said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.
“Andrew has been spending time with the family, he’s also travelled to Crathie Kirk in the same car as William, who was driving, and Kate.
“Charles is keen for the family to be united the older he gets.”
Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have emerged as senior figures in King Charles’s slimmed-down royal family operation.
The Duchess of York, who for years was banished from royal gatherings, has been staying at Balmoral.
Also attending church was Lady Susan Hussey, a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen, nine months after she resigned from royal duties amid a racism row.
Andrew has begun a bid to regain his £3 million ($A5.89m) a year taxpayer funded armed security detail.
The Duke had been stripped of police protection after paying millions to settle a civil sex assault case launched by Virginia Giuffre.
Prince Andrew found himself embroiled in sex allegations over his links with Epstein but has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
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