A brand new book that charts the life of the late Queen and released to mark the centenary of her birth, features new claims about Prince William and disgraced uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
A brand new royal book has claimed Prince William called his disgraced uncle Andrew the night his titles were stripped to offer his condolences.
The King stripped Andrew of his prince and Duke of York titles back in October following revelations about his friendship with the late billionaire paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein and booted him from his Royal Lodge Windsor mansion.
Reports at the time suggested William had been the driving force behind his father’s move, but in new biography Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public by Robert Hardman, a friend of Andrew’s claims he was “very touched” when his nephew was one of the few people to reach out to him. However, sources close to the Prince of Wales have denied the claim he reached out to his uncle either by phone or in person.
The former prince tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and for many years, has been dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by the financier. He has strenuously denied the allegations.
Months later, on his 66th birthday in February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after allegations he shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy.
The new book says: “Some accounts suggested that he was the driving force behind his Uncle Andrew being stripped of his titles and honours and banished to a house on the Sandringham estate. One friend of the former Yorks, however, reported that on the night they lost their titles, Andrew had been very touched when Prince William was one of the few people to call to offer condolences.”
However, earlier this year, it was revealed that William had demanded his disgraced uncle be immediately banished from the royal fold “before the rot set in”, following revelations of the former Duke of York’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
In the biography William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story , by The Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers, it is revealed how William appealed to his father and Queen Elizabeth II to take drastic action in the aftermath of Andrew’s catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview, where he failed to apologise for associating with the convicted paedophile or recognise the effect on Epstein’s victims.
In the wake of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s television interview, Myers tells how William realised how the monarchy was “engaged in a full-scale fire fight” and how it faced a threat to its survival due to public revulsion over the Epstein scandal.
The explosive biography also uncovered William’s key role in attempting to persuade his father and grandmother to force Andrew out of public life forever, believing his constant presence was “a stain on all the family”.
In the aftermath of Andrew’s disastrous interview in November 2019, William spoke to his father to implore him and the Queen to take immediate action, fearing not only the public backlash but for his own future.
A source said: “Once you understand the fact that everything that happens in the here and now, affects everything in the future, William’s future, it is very easy to put yourself in his shoes. He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in. William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”
The source added: “William’s view was that [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”
