Just In: King Charles makes grave mistake for monarchy with ‘ridiculous’ oversight
King Charles made a critical error in his handling of Prince Andrew’s forfeit of his Duke of York title due to his links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking on A Right Royal Podcast, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said Buckingham Palace’s decision to release Andrew’s statement under his own name — instead of from the King — was a serious misstep.
“I think it was a lost opportunity. The statement should have come from King Charles himself — that he’d taken decisive action,” the author said, according to Hello! magazine.
Lownie — author of a new book on Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson — called out the disgraced prince for claiming in his statement that it was his own decision to stand down from his royal duties five years ago — when the scandal first broke out — when it was clear “it had been forced upon him.”
The King “should have actually taken the credit” for the decision about his younger brother, noted Lownie. Instead, “they turned what could actually have been a good way of dealing with the problem into a bigger crisis than it had been before.”
“Just absolutely ridiculous stuff that no one really believed,” Lownie said.
Andrew announced on October 17 that he is relinquishing the Duke of York title and several honours, including his Order of the Garter membership, following “discussions with the King.”
“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” he wrote.
According to The Mirror, Charles personally ordered his younger brother to step down during a tense 10-minute call following a “close consultation with his family and in particular Prince William.”
Speaking to Sky News, royal expert Jennie Bond highlighted Andrew’s use of the “we,” calling it a clear indication that extreme pressure has been put on Prince Andrew to do, if you like, the ‘decent thing’ and fall on his sword.
