The ROYAL INSIDER

‘THE QUEEN’S DECISION TO HAVE ANDREW ON HER ARM WAS JAW-DROPPING’

Prince Andrew’s chances of making a return to public life may hang in tatters but there is at least one person who refuses to turn their back on him. Her Majesty’s decision to arrive at Prince Philip’s memorial service last week with the shamed Duke of York on her arm was nothing less than jaw-dropping.

Short of walking through Westminster Abbey’s nave flanked by front-page worthy Will Smith and Chris Rock, it is hard to see how else the Queen could have made such an eyebrow-raising entrance.

A service celebrating the incredible life of her beloved husband instantly became overshadowed by what can only be described as the monarch’s bold and high-risk act of regal defiance.

Until the pair arrived through a side entrance at this most significant of royal buildings, Andrew appeared to be finished.

The friends, charities and golfing cronies all severed their ties with the Queen’s son the moment his sex assault case appeared to be heading to court.

Then, when the royals were forced to stump up the cash earlier this year to make the whole thing go away, Andrew seemed to have already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.

Make no mistake, the Queen knew exactly what she was doing when Andrew accompanied her. This signal of public support was Her Majesty’s way of telling the world: ‘My son is innocent.’

Interestingly, Palace officials were quick to distance Princes Charles and William from what they insisted was a ‘private decision’ made by the Queen.

Not only has she clearly forgiven Andrew for his part in the ugly episode, but she feels talk of his being forever ‘damaged goods’ is wide of the mark.

As head of the ‘Firm’ she may have had no choice but to ‘sack’ Andrew as a working member of the Royal Family, but the Queen is clearly a mother first at heart.