Prince Andrew continues to make headlines weeks after he escorted Queen Elizabeth at Prince Philip’s memorial service. At the time, royal experts were surprised to see the Duke of York at Westminster Abbey because he just reached a settlement after being accused of sexual abuse by Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
But what made things worse for Prince Andrew’s critics was the fact that he escorted the queen to and from the venue. Some saw this as Her Majesty’s way of showing the public that she was standing by her favorite son.
In June, the queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee after serving the British throne for decades. And royal experts couldn’t help but wonder if the Duke of York would be there.
Prince Andrew Could Tarnish Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
Royal author Clive Irving penned an article for the Daily Beast where he accused Prince Andrew of tarnishing the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration.
“This year, what should have been a glorious, unblemished celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee has instead become tarnished by the iniquity of the Queen’s second son — and by the puzzle of her attachment to him, demonstrated when he escorted her to her seat in Westminster Abbey for the service celebrating the life of Prince Philip,” he wrote (via Express).
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Prince Andrew Slammed For Attending Prince Philip’s Memorial Service
Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie also weighed in on Prince Andrew’s attendance at Prince Philip’s memorial service.
[Andrew’s] presence was always going to be controversial, but Prince Andrew taking on the self-appointed role of consort for the day has completely overshadowed a beautiful service. And to think just a week ago palace sources were fretting about the optics of a ‘wheelchair,’” Scobie tweeted.
But a source close to the Duke of York previously told The Telegraph that his attendance showed that Prince Philip’s memorial service was a family event. As such, Prince Andrew had every right to be there because he was paying his respects to his late father.
“As the Queen herself has often said: Sometimes people need to remember I have four children. We are a family,” the source said.
Will Prince Andrew Attend Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Or Not?
Royal experts are divided when it comes to Prince Andrew’s attendance at the queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Some of them are convinced that he would be there while others believe that he would skip the gathering.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward said that Prince Andrew won’t attend the Platinum Jubilee.
“I don't think we'll see much of Prince Andrew. He's had to relinquish his military titles, so I think it would be humiliating for him to appear on the balcony in plain clothes. I think the Queen would love to have him there but she is sensitive to public opinion, and the opinion after Prince Philip's memorial was not good. She tried it and it didn't go down very well so I rather doubt she'll try it again. If her subjects don't want him there, he won't be there,” Seward told The Herald Sun.
On the other hand, royal correspondent Natalie Oliveri thinks that Prince Andrew wouldn’t just attend the celebrations. He would also want to become the queen’s unofficial advisor for the Platinum Jubilee.
“I think it will really backfire for the Royal Family. This is not going to be a good look if Prince Andrew does accompany his mother to the Epsom later this year. It will certainly leave a lot of people angry and of course, the memorial service last week but this is another example of Prince Andrew really trying to revive his ruined reputation. Some fear that he's trying to wedge himself in as the Queen's unofficial advisor now that Prince Philip, who was the Queen's long time confident, has gone. There are reports that Prince Andrew will be at the Epsom Derby to help his mother with mobility issues now that's why he took such a prominent role at Philip's memorial,” she said (via The News).
Check back for more stories and updates about Prince Andrew and Queen Elizabeth here at EpicStream!
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