The possible details of the funeral of Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor are causing a row even though he’s still
alive.
The Mail on Sunday has revealed that the former prince is still
on the list of Windsors who will get a royal funeral.
And that’s led to arguments about how the service, still decades
away, should play out.
The Mail on Sunday reports that ‘senior Whitehall sources’ have
confirmed that Andrew is set to receive a royal funeral as things
stand.
Plans for royal funerals are made years in advance although
reviewed regularly.
The term ‘royal funeral’ is far reaching. It covers major State
events, such as the funeral of the Monarch, as well as plans for
others in the immediate family.
It’s not known what the details of current plans for Andrew’s
funeral are. The Mail on Sunday has spoken to royal experts who
believe plans could be along the lines of those used following the
death of Princess Margaret in 2002.
Margaret’s funeral was held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor with
around 400 people in attendance. It was a private service and the
only public elements were the arrival and departure of her coffin
which was carried into and out of the chapel by a bearer party from
the Royal Highland Fusiliers – Princess Margaret had been their
colonel in chief.
The funeral arrangements for the princess became historic when
she was the first senior member of the Royal Family to be cremated.
Her ashes were later interred in the King George VI Chapel inside
St. George’s Chapel.
The reports on a potential funeral for Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor mention the possibility of burial at Frogmore,
the private cemetery where many members of the Royal Family have
been laid to rest.
Buckingham Palace made no comment which in itself isn’t
surprising as they rarely comment on such matters ahead of
time.
The final decision on any ceremony at St. George’s Chapel would
rest with the Monarch at the time as the church is a royal
peculiar. That means it isn’t subject to the usual rules of the
Church of England and comes under the direct jurisdiction of the
Monarch.
Several clandestine royal funerals have been held there
previously with Elizabeth Woodville, queen of Edward IV, buried
there with little fanfare in the 15th century.
However a row has broken out over whether Andrew’s funeral
should take place there now that his place on the list of royal
requiems has been confirmed.
The former prince lost his royal status, including his HRH, in
autumn 2025 when Charles III issued Letters Patent removing them.
His titles were also removed from the Roll of Peerage. It followed
further controversy over Andrew’s friendship with the convicted sex
offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
In February 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on
suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released without
charge and under investigation. He has always denied any
wrongdoing.
However, representatives of victims of Epstein told the Mail on
Sunday that royal honours of all kinds, including a funeral, should
be denied to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
