Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.Photo: RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“People around the Queen are sad that all everyone was talking about is Prince Andrew and notPrince Philip,” a royal insider tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.Richard Pohle/Getty
Royal commentator Robert Jobson says there was uneasiness among senior members of the royal family about the Queen’s decision, “but she insisted.”
“It shows she wholeheartedly loves and believes her son,” Jobson, the author ofPrince Philip’s Century. “As she did when she made a statement about Camilla being Queen’s Consort, many people will now accept the Queen’s word and judgment.”
“It does make some sense that he accompany her because he doesn’t have a partner. A settlement has been paid but he’s guilty of nothing in the eyes of the law,” he adds. “She has faith in Andrew. Even if he disappears from public life, he’s been able to pay tribute to his father, who after all, was very proud of his service in the Royal Navy, where he fought in the Falkland Islands conflict.”
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The decision to strip Andrew of his titles and affiliations was “widely discussed” within the senior ranks of the royal family, a royal source confirms to PEOPLE — likely meaning talks betweenQueen Elizabeth,Prince CharlesandPrince William.
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.getty
Prince Andrew’s ex-wifeSarah Fergusonshared a series of Instagram posts on his behalf over the weekendusing his banned “His Royal Highness” title— before deleting the message just hours later.
In the message, Prince Andrew reflected on the 40th anniversary of his leaving to serve in the Falkland War with the Royal Navy, where he flew missions as a Sea King helicopter pilot. The Queen’s son said he entered the war “full of bravado” but returned a “changed man.”
Shortly after it was posted, the Instagram message was amended to remove the “HRH” ahead of Prince Andrew’s Duke of York title. Quickly thereafter, the posts were deleted entirely.
source: people.com
