Duke asks the Queen to reinstate royal role
Andrew wants status as blood prince restored – and Eugenie and Beatrice brought into the fold
‘Most important for him is his status as an HRH’
THE Duke of York has asked the Queen to reinstate him as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, The Daily Telegraph understands, as he pushes for a return to royal duties.
Prince Andrew has been lobbying the monarch for his status as a blood prince to be restored, meaning readmittance to official events with other members of his family. He has also been pushing for his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to be made working royals.
A source said: “The colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards was his most coveted title and he wants it back. Having remained a Counsellor of State, he also believes he should be included at royal and state events.
“Most important for him is his status as an HRH and ‘Prince of the Blood’ and he feels that should be reinstated and his position recognised and respected.”
The Duke will appear in public today with senior members of the Royal family at the annual Order of the Garter ceremony, dressed in full regalia for the colourful procession at Windsor Castle.
It will be his first official outing since he controversially took centre stage at the late Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March.
The Duke will be aware that time is of the essence where his future is concerned, with a return to the spotlight only possible with the Queen’s agreement. Prince Charles has made clear that in his opinion, there is no way back.
While talks about the Duke’s future are underway behind the scenes, there is no desire behind palace walls to return any of his honorary military titles or patronages.
Although he has the ear of the Queen – visiting her at Windsor Castle several times a week – palace aides are under no illusion about the strength of public feeling over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, and recent sexual abuse allegations.
In February, the Duke paid about £12million to settle a civil case with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault and battery. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Despite being effectively sacked as a working royal, he remains ninth in line to the throne and as such, a Counsellor of State, a role undertaken by any spouse of the monarch and the next four adults in the line of succession – currently Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.
While senior royals – including his three siblings and the Duke of Cambridge – are said to have little sympathy for the Duke given his questionable conduct, they recognise that a role for him needs to be found.
At 62, he has time to rebuild his life with a focus out of the public eye. His family members and courtiers appreciate that to do this, he will need palace support. A senior Buckingham Palace source said: “Clearly at some point soon, thought will have to be given as to how to support the Duke as, away from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction.”
The Duke inherited the colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards from his father, Prince Philip, in 2017, and it was returned to the Queen in January.
However, when out riding in Windsor, the Duke has continued to wear a waterproof jacket bearing the cypher of the Grenadier Guards and its motto,
Honi soit qui mal y pense (“Shame upon he who thinks evil of it”).