Guards ‘didn’t want Andrew’

One of the British Army’s most illustrious regiments reportedly tried to stop Prince Andrew becoming its figurehead in 2017.

The Grenadier Guards were said to have been unhappy and embarrassed when Buckingham Palace proposed the Duke of York to become the regiment’s honorary colonel on the retirement of Prince Philip, who had held the position since 1975.

Senior officers asked if another member of the royal family could take up the role, but were firmly told by the palace that they must accept Andrew.

It is said to have been a source of dismay to the infantry regiment, which dates back to 1656.

The duke’s links to American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein are under scrutiny. Since his controversial BBC interview earlier this month, senior personnel in the army and the Royal Navy have called for him to be stripped of all honorary military appointments.

Andrew, who served in the navy and flew a helicopter during the Falklands conflict, holds nine significant honorary positions in the forces.

In the army, as well as his position in the Grenadier Guards, he is royal colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, colonel-in-chief of the Yorkshire Regiment, the Royal Irish Regiment and the Small Arms School Corps, and deputy colonel-in-chief of the Royal Lancers.

He is also commodore-in-chief of the Fleet Air Arm and admiral of the Sea Cadets, and an honorary air commodore in the Royal Air Force.

The roles entail handing out medals, making official visits and attending ceremonial events.

While charities have continued to sever their links with the duke since he announced last week that he was stepping back from public life, the armed forces are bound by their allegiance to the Queen and are unable to take the initiative.

Buckingham Palace has made it clear that Andrew is keeping his military commands despite the growing disquiet in the ranks. A source confirmed, however, that he would not perform public duties associated with the appointments.