Prince Andrew is anticipated to play a “central part” in the Queen’s funeral, but “had no hope of returning to public life once she is buried.” The disgraced duke has been granted a temporary respite to grieve his mother, but is likely to “disappear” thereafter.
The Duke of York, who has been embroiled in controversy due to his ties to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is likely to join his family as they unite in their grief, with sources stating that his exclusion would be “unthinkable.”
It remains to be seen what form the truce will take at the Queen’s service on September 19, with rumors indicating that Prince Andrew will play a pivotal role despite recent issues.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral on Thursday, the royal family is attempting to present a united front during the period of national sorrow.
Today, he is anticipated to follow his mother’s casket from Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh to St Giles’s Cathedral.
On September 10, Prince Andrew, Duke of York observes the flowers placed by mourners outside Balmoral Castle.
Yesterday, the Duke of York waited with his sister, the Princess Royal, her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, his brother, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, for the arrival of his mother’s coffin at Holyroodhouse.
At 2.35pm today, the Duke of York is due to follow his mother’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Yesterday, the casket is shown arriving in Edinburgh.
Yesterday, Prince Andrew accompanied Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex as they carried the Queen’s casket into the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Prince Andrew returns to the family, but only temporarily.
Prince Andrew has maintained a reasonably quiet profile over the past few years following suspicions of his ties to infamous child molester Jeffrey Epstein.
He has rarely been seen in public and was only planned to attend one event during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee festivities, which he missed owing to Covid.
With the demise of his mother, he has been permitted to return to the public eye to participate in the national grieving that will occur over the next two weeks.
This is not believed to be a permanent return, since the Telegraph reports that the new monarch will not permit him to resume formal activities.
As they tried to manage the consequences from Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and subsequent civil sex abuse lawsuit with one of the paedophile’s victims, King Charles and his son, Prince William, were two of the main forces for Andrew’s banishment from public life.
Once the period of mourning for Her Majesty concludes, he will reportedly be pushed back into obscurity.
Anne, Andrew, Edward, and their children greeted well-wishers gathered outside the gates of Balmoral on Saturday, while Charles was being sworn in as King.
He was observed reading tributes to his late mother and cuddling with his daughter, Princess Eugenie.
And the 62-year-old joined other family members in Edinburgh yesterday for the arrival of the Queen’s coffin, putting a temporary halt to his apparent exile from public life.
As the procession reached at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital, the Duke of York, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward were there.
Andrew is known to have been quite close to his late mother and to have spent significant time with her in recent months.
He was spotted going arm-in-arm with his mother at the funeral of his late father, Prince Phillip. He has often been referred to as the Queen’s “favorite son.”
Since his link with infamous child molester Jeffrey Epstein became public knowledge, he has been rarely spotted in public, and other family members have criticized his participation in royal ceremonies.
His participation at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was his first public appearance since resolving a civil sex abuse action with Virginia Giuffre without admitting culpability.
Due to covid, he was absent from the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.
The Duke will play a pivotal role in the period of national sorrow following his mother’s death, with the King’s approval.
It would be inconceivable, according to a palace insider quoted by The Telegraph, for him not to be involved when the royal family is attempting to project a united front.
Princess Beatrice and her father, the Duke of York, examine flowers and tributes left outside Balmoral Castle in Ballater, Scotland, on September 10.
King Charles and Prince William have both made it plain that Andrew would not play a formal role during their reigns, so this brief reprieve is unlikely to become permanent.
The tabloid added, “Once it is all finished, he is expected to return to a life well below the royal radar.”
At 2.35pm today, the Duke of York is due to follow his mother’s coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Alongside the King and other senior members of the Royal Family, he will travel the 1,200-yard course on foot.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and his sister, the Princess Royal, will be present.
After attending a service at Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral, the Duke stands in the middle and waves to the crowd.
Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, is scheduled to accompany her on foot, while the Queen Consort and other members of the royal family will follow in cars.
The procession will include a hearse flanked by the Bearer Party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Company of Archers detachment of The King’s Body Guard in Scotland.
Once placed in St. Giles’ Cathedral, the Crown of Scotland will be affixed to the casket of the Queen.
The King and other family members will begin a vigil at the casket at 7:20 p.m.
There are rumors that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the new Prince and Princess of Wales, who appeared at Windsor Castle on Saturday with a united front, will be among the royal mourners.
The Queen will then relax for 24 hours, during which time many are anticipated to pass by.
On Tuesday, her coffin will be flown with the Princess Royal to London.