Peter Hunt

Prince Charles is now pulling the strings of the monarchy

Prince Andrew’s humiliation is complete. For now. Who knows what lies around the corner?

Despite Palace protestations to the contrary – and they’re hardly going to say otherwise – it’s extremely doubtful there’ll be a role for the Queen’s son at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday; at the annual Trooping the Colour; or when the royals gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony during significant state and royal occasions. And the idea he can continue his Pitch at the Palace for entrepreneurs is a fanciful one. Businesses that normally flock to the Windsor brand are fleeing this particular representative. When the statement used the words “for the foreseeable future” read “for ever”.

Andrew won’t have embraced his fallen destiny. He’ll have clung to the balustrades as he resisted. While the Queen handed him his P45, it will have been filled in by her heir, Prince Charles.

Andrew’s departure reminds us of the inevitable shift in power from Monarch to “shadow king”.

Written by
Peter Hunt
Peter Hunt is a commentator on the monarchy and constitutional issues. He is a former BBC diplomatic and royal correspondent. He tweets at @_PeterHunt

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