King Charles has been urged to adopt a more authoritarian approach in managing Prince Andrew's public activities following a highly criticized recent appearance by the Duke of York.
Prince Andrew faced intense backlash for his prominent role at a memorial service for Greece's late King Constantine. Royal biographer Tom Bower described Andrew’s February appearance at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel as a "catastrophic mistake," noting that Andrew "pushed himself to the front," a move seen as inappropriate by many.
During the event, Andrew was seen walking ahead of senior royals, including Princess Anne and Zara Tindall, through the castle grounds. His actions drew significant ire, especially since he walked ahead of Queen Camilla and Prince William—though the former arrived separately and the latter was absent, attending to Princess Kate, who had been recently diagnosed with cancer.
Bower criticized King Charles for not taking a stronger stance against Andrew's public appearances, saying, "I blame the King for not being more authoritarian for ordering Prince Andrew to stay out of public view."
This sharp criticism comes amid reports of a dispute between Prince Andrew and King Charles over the future of Royal Lodge. Andrew, who secured a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge from the Crown Estate in 2003, reportedly intends to transfer the residence to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. However, King Charles is pressing his brother to vacate Royal Lodge and move to Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which has been vacant since their eviction in 2023.
Royal author Gareth Russell explained that if Prince Andrew cannot afford the upkeep of Royal Lodge, this would provide a legal basis for the King and the Crown Estates to ask him to vacate the property. The ongoing dispute and Andrew's controversial public appearances continue to place pressure on King Charles to manage his brother's activities more assertively.
