Call to cross Andrew off list of the Queen’s understudies

The Duke should be stripped of a status that lets him fill in for the Queen and other royals if they’re ill or abroad, experts say.

The Queen and Prince Andrew in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The Duke of York should be stripped of his status as a counsellor of state as the position means he could still carry out royal duties if the Queen and other senior royals are ill or abroad, experts have said.

Counsellors of state stand in for the Queen or monarch if they cannot perform their official duties. They include the spouse of the monarch and the next four people in the line of succession aged over 21 – at present the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York.

With Prince Harry based abroad and no longer a working member of the royal family, this makes it more likely that Andrew could be needed.

Dr Craig Prescott, an expert in UK constitutional law, said it seemed “inevitable” that there would be change. This will become particularly pressing when Charles becomes king and travels abroad with the Duchess of Cornwall, who would become a counsellor as the wife of a monarch.

Prince Andrew has kept a low profile recently. Picture: Getty Images

“They could draft in Princess Anne or Prince Edward and specifically make them counsellors of state. There is a precedent for that, of a fashion, with the Queen Mother. In 1953 she was specifically made an extra counsellor. They may look to add the Duchess of Cambridge.”

Hugo Vickers, a royal historian, said that changes should “probably happen”.

“If Prince Andrew is not taking part in royal life, then he shouldn’t be taking part as a counsellor of state either.”

If the Queen temporarily cannot undertake official duties due to illness or absence, then two or more counsellors of state are appointed by letters patent to act in her place.

The monarch is empowered to appoint counsellors under the Regency Acts 1937-53, and legislation would be needed to remove Andrew or add more people.

Andrew, who has always denied any wrongdoing, has not been seen in public since he agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Virginia Giuffre on Tuesday.

Sarah Ferguson, his former wife, was pictured yesterday being driven through Windsor Great Park near Royal Lodge, where they live together.

There were fresh pleas for transparency yesterday over how he is funding his estimated pounds 10 million payout to Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with the duke when she was 17 after being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, has already pledged to seek assurances that no public money was involved in the settlement when MPs return to Westminster next week.

But he said that Andrew remaining as counsellor was also something that needed exploring.

“In any other walk of life, you would just remove yourself or be removed, and lead a quiet life,” McDonald said.

“His continual presence, be it in name only or otherwise, is just a constant reminder of the people he associated with.”

The Queen has reportedly pledged to help her son by making a 2 million pound donation to Giuffre’s charity. The Daily Mirror reported that she allegedly agreed to assist Andrew as long as she was not connected to any personal payment to his accuser.

The Sun reported that a family loan would be used to fund the case. This followed claims earlier in the week that the Queen would help pay for the settlement.

Others have suggested the upcoming sale of Andrew’s ski chalet would be used.

Palace sources yesterday suggested there will be no change to legislation regarding counsellors of state.

The Times