Monarch forced to reconsider 2022 decision amid growing controversy
King Charles is facing renewed pressure over his handling of Prince Andrew’s royal status, as fresh scrutiny on his disgraced brother threatens to overshadow upcoming state engagements.
With a major state visit on the horizon, the King is now forced to revisit a key decision made in 2022 regarding Andrew’s role within the monarchy. The latest controversy stems from concerns raised within the UK government, particularly by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who has strongly opposed Andrew’s continued status as a Counsellor of State.
According to The Times, Rayner argued that allowing Andrew to retain eligibility for the role despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein was a “huge problem.” She reportedly told colleagues that “the government needed to address this” and assured cross-party support to remove him.
A political source noted: “She’s not anti-monarchist, but she doesn’t like a [paedophile].”
While Buckingham Palace previously implemented a workaround by appointing Princess Anne and Prince Edward as additional Counsellors of State—effectively preventing Andrew from being called upon—Rayner remains firm that the measure did not go far enough.
“I’m not going to vote to keep that [paedophile] on … I can’t go back to my constituency and say, yeah, I support that,” she stated.
Adding to the pressure, new revelations suggest that Andrew maintained communication with Epstein beyond 2010—despite publicly claiming to have severed ties.
As calls for action grow louder, Charles may soon be forced to take decisive steps regarding Andrew’s royal status to prevent further controversy from destabilising his reign.
