The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, found himself at the center of controversy following his appearance at the thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece. Despite not officially leading the procession of the British royal family members walking from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel, photographs of the event suggested otherwise. This sparked criticism as the order of precedence was arranged in reverse order of seniority, a fact that was not immediately apparent from the images.
The thanksgiving service saw Andrew arrive alongside his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, along with other non-working royals such as Mike and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Notably absent from the event were King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Prince William, who had initially planned to attend, withdrew at the last minute due to a personal matter. The Queen took the most senior position last, with Princess Anne walking just ahead of Prince William had he been present.
Prince Andrew has been under intense scrutiny since stepping back as a senior royal in 2019 after his controversial TV interview with BBC Newsnight. The interview shed light on his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, leading to serious allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. Despite vehemently denying the claims, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in February 2022. Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth II stripped Andrew of his honorary military roles and his HRH style in an official capacity in January of the same year.
Andrew continues to reside at Royal Lodge in Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah, who recently received a skin cancer diagnosis. Sarah took to social media to urge her followers to prioritize their health checkups following her own health scare. She shared details of her diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of early detection in managing serious health conditions. The couple, who are grandparents to several grandchildren, have faced personal challenges alongside the public controversy surrounding Andrew.
The Duke of York’s attendance at the thanksgiving service for King Constantine of Greece generated both attention and criticism. His presence among the royal family members highlighted ongoing controversies and personal challenges faced by the prince and his family. As the public continues to scrutinize Andrew’s actions and associations, the royal’s future role and public appearances remain uncertain.
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