Prince Andrew made a surprising public appearance at the Royal Family’s Easter service on Sunday, stepping out alongside senior royals just as Prince William opted to stay away—an absence royal experts say created the perfect opportunity.
Though stripped of his royal titles and public duties, the Duke of York remains a family member and attended the private event at St George’s Chapel in Windsor with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. His presence came as a shock to many, given longstanding backlash and strained relations within the Firm.
According to royal commentator Phil Dampier, Andrew’s appearance was likely made easier by William’s absence. “It is absolutely true to say that William is one of the driving forces behind making sure there’s no future for the Duke of York,” he told The Sun. “There is, I’m told, quite a lot of friction between them.”
Dampier added, “It made it a lot easier, I think, for Andrew that William wasn’t there,” although he believes the Waleses’ decision to remain in Norfolk was unrelated to the Duke directly.
Andrew and Fergie arrived with Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, while their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, also attended with their husbands. The outing is seen as a subtle attempt by Andrew to reinforce his presence within the royal fold—at a moment when key opposition was noticeably missing.
