Prince William will inevitably be delighted by the news that Prince Andrew has agreed to stop using his Duke of York title (having it removed completely is a little more complicated!) as it’s no secret that he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with his disgraced uncle.
But Andrew giving up the use of his title and retreating further from public life doesn’t seem to be enough for the Prince of Wales, who reportedly views him as a reputational liability to the monarchy. “Andrew has become an embarrassment to the family and even a threat to the future of the monarchy,” a royal expert noted in Channel 5’s documentary Prince George: How To Make A Monarch.
Prince William reportedly won’t give up until his uncle is banished from both public and private royal life for good. That includes ensuring Andrew isn’t invited to his coronation when he eventually takes the throne, and making it clear he’s not welcome at the family’s Christmas table either.
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Prince William Will Reportedly Ban Prince Andrew From 'All Elements' Of Royal Life
When Prince Andrew gave up his title, he released the following statement: "In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first."
He added: "I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
But according to the Times, Prince William was "not satisfied" with Andrew's statement, and wants to go one step further to deal with his disgraced uncle even before ascending to the throne. "Andrew will be banned from all elements of royal life. He will be excluded from public and private royal events, including the coronation, and banned from most state occasions," the pub reported.
A Heavy Blow For Prince Andrew
This is, unsurprisingly, a major blow for Prince Andrew. In recent years, he had quietly been allowed to attend some lower-profile family gatherings, including Easter services at St George's Chapel, this year's private Garter Day celebrations, and the Duchess of Kent's funeral. He was also included in the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham in 2022 and 2023, although ex-wife Sarah Ferguson reportedly advised him to skip the 2024 festivities.
But Andrew's already fragile position has worsened following renewed scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh allegations in Virginia Giuffre's new memoir, Nobody's Girl. The book details three alleged encounters with Andrew, and has sparked fresh public and political calls for him to lose his remaining royal privileges.
UK MPs have even put forward motions to strip him of his titles and his Royal Lodge home, while London's Metropolitan Police are reportedly looking into claims that Andrew once asked a bodyguard to get private information about Giuffre.
Prince William Is Feeling The Pressure
Prince William is reportedly determined to eliminate Andrew's influence from the monarchy entirely, and believes his uncle's presence at royal events sends the wrong message to the public, especially to abuse survivors.
Royal expert Duncan Larcombe previously told GB News: "William saw his uncle as nothing more than a real pariah, frankly. William is no fool...He's got his destiny to fulfill and he read the room."
Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich echoed this, previously telling Fox News Digital that both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry "should be wary of his wrath," adding that the father-of-three "does not suffer fools gladly."
And the pressure on the heir is mounting, as Fordwich added at the time: "Prince William is dedicated to duty, as imbued in him by Queen Elizabeth II, who tutored him every Sunday regarding his royal duties. He's also under huge generational pressure since the public's support for the monarchy now rests squarely on both him and Princess Catherine."
