Prince Andrew 'completely unaware of public image' as 'deluded' royal pushing to return
PRINCE ANDREW has been "lobbying [the Queen] quite hard" for a return to public life because he is an "arrogant" man, a royal commentator has said.
Prince Andrew ‘unaware of public image’ says Jennie Bond
Royal commentator Jennie Bond told GB News that Prince Andrew has been going to see the Queen “frequently” at Windsor Castle, since he has “no other duties to perform”. He was originally listed to take part in Monday’s Order of the Garter service but was reportedly limited to private elements of the event last-minute.
Ms Bond said: “The Queen is in such a difficult position here, isn’t she? And yes, she is the Queen, she has those responsibilities.
“But she’s a mum and she loves her boy. She loves Andrew and they’re very close.
“He has been going frequently to see her at Windsor Castle because he lives nearby and he’s got no other duties to perform.
“So he spends a lot of time with mummy and I think he’s been lobbying quite hard for some kind of measured return to public life.
“He seems to be completely unaware of his public image. He’s always been rather an arrogant man, I have to say.
“He’s self-important, he loves his status and he wants his status back.
"And I think he persuaded the Queen in some measure that he could make a modest return to some sort of public life.
“But other members of the family, particularly Prince Charles and William, are adamant that is not going to happen.”
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In an apparently last-minute decision on Monday, Prince Andrew was kept out of any public elements of the Order of Garter service at Windsor Castle.
The historical event included a procession from the royal estate to St George’s Chapel.
Buckingham Palace sources confirmed a “family decision” had been made to exclude the Queen’s second son from the service.
He did, however, attend the lunch and investiture of new members of the ancient order, both of which were held privately.
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It was originally planned that Prince Andrew would partake in the whole event after he allegedly persuaded the Queen he should attend.
But reports emerged that both the Prince of Wales and Prince William had lobbied the 96-year-old monarch against the idea.
It would have been the first time Andrew was seen at a public event since attending the memorial for the Duke of Edinburgh in March.
The Queen was also absent for the public parts of the service due to ongoing mobility issues, though, like Andrew, she attended the private lunch.