Slumped in the back of a car, red eyes staring and an intense look of panic written across his face, the image of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after he was released from Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk following his shocking arrest has been branded “the photo that could bring down the monarchy”.
Just hours after Andrew’s Norfolk home was raided, the King, 77, and Queen, 78, attended an event but were “shouted at and heckled”, reports respected royal biographer Phil Dampier.
“No one knows what the future holds for them or Andrew, who looked exhausted,” adds Phil.
“The big question is whether the monarchy can survive it, and what King Charles and his heir Prince William should do now.”
Amid arguably the biggest scandal in royal history, Andrew, 66, was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into misconduct in public office, which follows years of allegations over his friendship with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The files that changed everything
The release of the so-called Epstein files has sparked claims that the former prince – who served as trade commissioner for the UK between 2001 and 2011 – may have shared sensitive government information with Epstein. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life behind bars.
While it’s possible that no charges will be brought against the disgraced former Duke of York, the stain that has been left on the royal family and the King will linger for years – and ruptures within the family are starting to show.
A house divided
“William and Charles don’t see eye to eye on much these days, but they do agree this is a calamity that has the potential to destroy the entire British monarchy,” a palace insider tells Woman’s Day.
“Charles is doing a lot to distract from it – movie premieres and meet-and-greets – but nothing’s working. “William isn’t the only one noticing and concerned that this is too much for his father. He’s worried he’s working himself into an early grave while dealing with unprecedented circumstances.
Time for a fresh start
“He would never directly ask his father to step aside, but he has expressed his concerns about his health while pointing out how the Danish royal family averted its own scandal with an abdication. “With no upcoming royal weddings or christenings to be excited about, there are a growing number of people in the palace starting to wonder if an abdication and a brand-new start is just what they need.”
“William has already proven to be an effective leader – Charles wouldn’t be in such a mess if he and the Queen [Elizabeth II] had followed Wills’ advice, and ditched Andrew after his car-crash TV interview. “Instead, they paid off his accuser and gave Andrew extra titles. It was the wrong decision and one of the reasons why Charles is losing allies in the palace.”
Andrew dumped from succession
With calls for the royals to remove Andrew as eighth in line to the throne, Princess Beatrice would replace him in the line of successiom.
Kate’s BAFTAS anxiety
She looked as poised and elegant as always as she walked the red carpet of the Bafta Awards beside her husband, but beneath the surface, the Princess of Wales, 44, was “terrified, startled and concerned”, a body language expert reveals.
While her husband, the Prince of Wales, 43, confirmed he was “not in a calm state” as he explained why he hadn’t watched the film Hamnet, body-language expert Dr Louise Mahler described Kate as looking “like a woman on her first public engagement”.
Louise says, “Backstage, as she enters the venue, her eyes look heavy. They stare, not blinking, and her arms are stiff. She looks terrified, startled, concerned… No doubt petrified that this will be the moment that may break her.”
