Prince Andrew missing Ascot this week has given the Royal Family hope the Duke may be finally realising he has to step away from public life.
This week the Duke of York, a 62-year old man from York, was scheduled to join other Firm members in a carriage procession.
But according to the Times, a source said he decided to stay away, in a decision made ‘without fuss’, following the controversy generated by his desire to attend Monday’s Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew was forced to miss that event, one of the most colourful events in the royal calendar, after the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge reportedly lobbied the Queen about his participation.
Andrew’s name was already on the order for service, so the decision was evidently made in the last minute.
According to reports, Prince Andrew has decided to skip Ascot, leaving the Royal Family feeling relieved.
As part of Ascot’s carriage procession, Prince Charles and Duchess Cornwall took part.
According to Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie, the Duke was left ‘crushed and confused’ after he was banned from attending.
Writing in his column for Yahoo News, Omid, known for his biography about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said source said Andrew was ‘crushed… [and]”A little confused”
The Duke of York had apparently been under the impression that a blessing had been granted for him to be present at the service with senior members of royal family earlier in the week.
Omid said the monarchy’s ‘reluctance to completely remove Prince Andrew from all aspects of royal life’ is ‘damaging’ and ‘reflects terribly on the family’.
The Duke of York, 62, was not seen in public during the ceremony at Windsor Castle, one of the most colourful events in the royal calendar, after the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge reportedly lobbied the Queen (pictured with Prince Charles) about his participation
He added: ‘The reluctance was… clear when Andrew was allowed to walk the Queen in front of the world’s media for Prince Philip’s televised memorial service, and when he was given the go-ahead to attend some of the Platinum Jubilee events.’
In the end, the Duke didn’t join royal family members at the four-day festivities due to a positive COVID-19 test result.
Omid continued: ‘Every chance Prince Andrew is given to try and rehabilitate his image is a step closer to further damage and shame for the institution of the monarchy. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.’
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Charles teamed up to stop Andrew’s plans to return to public service. This was their latest display of unity.
The 39-year-old Prince William told the Queen (right) and the Prince of Wales, that he wouldn’t attend the Order of the Garter ceremony with his uncle the Duke of York if he was offered a public position
Prince William (39), told the Queen and Prince of Wales he would withdraw from the Order of theGarter ceremony, if his uncle, the Duke of York, was granted a public position.
Katie also revealed that Prince Charles had been ‘particularly resistant to’ his brother’s attendance at the event, in fear that he would ‘upstage Camilla’s big moment’.
Writing in Vanity Fair, she explained how both Prince William and Prince Charles are ‘adamant’ Andrew does not return to public life and want to ‘ride the wave of goodwill’ created by the ‘success of the Jubilee’ without the Duke.