A royal expert has revealed the key royal who would “refuse to speak” to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor long before he was mentioned in the Department of Justice’s Epstein files.
The former Duke of York’s name has appeared multiple times in the latest tranche of documents linking him to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and is now being investigated over potential sexual offences, misconduct in public office and corruption.
However, despite the ex-prince’s fall from grace over recent years, a royal commentator has revealed which member of the monarchy has long kept their distance from the disgraced royal.
Maureen Callahan appeared on The Royals Uncensored podcast, where she claimed that, prior to the recent Epstein scandal, Princess Kate Middleton would avoid the disgraced royal at events.
“[Royal biographer] Andrew Lownie said that for quite a long time before the Andrew story blew up, Catherine would refuse to speak with him at family gatherings,” she said.
And Kate isn’t the only royal who wasn’t very fond of the ex-Prince Andrew, with Callahan adding: “William wanted nothing to do with him.”
The royal expert went on to share a grim prediction for the former Duke of York and his future in the royal fold.
“When there is a King William I think Andrew will be fully expunged.”
Royal author Russell Myers echoed these claims in the book William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story.
“The late Queen sought to protect her son [Andrew] from complete banishment, clinging to the hope that he would one day be exonerated.”
Myers added: “Similarly, while acknowledging that his brother could never return to public duties, Charles attempted to honour his mother’s wishes and for a long time stopped short of pushing for Andrew’s complete banishment.
“By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.”
It’s not only Andrew that will be receiving some tough love from the future King, with Callahan predicting that William will take a much sterner approach with his brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.
“I do think Harry and Meghan, their titles will be stripped,” she said on the podcast.
However, despite the Sussexes calling the United States home over the past six years, Callahan says Americans won’t lose too much sleep over their downfall.
“We in America will be cheering him (Prince William) on,” Callahan said.
The Prince of Wales has not addressed what actions he will take as King, although he has hinted there will be “change” during his reign, with a focus on carrying out royal duties with a small “r”, The Guardian reported in 2024.