Prince Harry isn’t the only royal family member Prince William has an issue with. Apparently, the Prince of Wales also has a “grudge” against his uncle, Prince Andrew, and things are so “strained” that William wants Andrew out of the family when he becomes king.
“Prince William has long had a strained and distant relationship with Andrew,” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News in May 2025, adding that William has “a grudge against his disgraced uncle.”
Fordwich continued, “Andrew’s future within the royal family is beyond bleak, since Prince William is firmly opposed to any public rehabilitation with no foreseeable path back. He wants Andrew to vanish from public view.”
William’s negative opinion of Andrew comes after Virginia Giuffre claimed in 2014 that she was sex trafficked to the Duke of York when she was 17 years old by convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. After the allegations, Andrew resigned from his public roles with the royal family in May 2020, and had his honorary military affiliations and royal charitable patronages removed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in January 2022. He was also a defendant in a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by Giuffre in New York State. The lawsuit was settled out of court in February 2022, and Andrew paid an undisclosed sum to Giuffre.
Related: A full timeline of those Prince William and Rose Hanbury affair rumors
According to Fordwish, one of William’s first plans as king is to make sure that Andrew is “completely excluded” from the royal family. “[William is] very in touch with the public,” Fordwich said. “Every public opinion poll has Andrew at the bottom, reinforcing Prince William’s stance. Once king, no doubt, Prince William will ensure Andrew is completely excluded from royal life, as well as all public appearances.”
“Prince William’s role within the royal family is more prominent and influential than ever, as is his center stage position in diplomatic relations,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard added to Fox News.
Chard continued, “He recognizes the public animosity towards Andrew. He views him as a complete liability with his series of scandals, both past and present, shoveling shame on the family. His stance towards his uncle is tough. He will not entertain anyone toxic to the brand. Andrew will not be part of the streamlined monarchy.”
Chard explained that Andrew’s brother and William’s father, King Charles, also feelings negatively toward Andrew, though he has more sympathy toward him because he’s his brother.
“King Charles is said to be fed up with ‘the Andrew problem,’ although he has a softer approach to his brother as he is family,” Chard said. “Prince William, however, has never been a fan of his uncle. He has no time for him. Allegedly, he was also disappointed that Andrew did not welcome his wife into the family with open arms all those years ago.”
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also explained to Fox News that, while Charles “may privately feel sympathy” toward Andrew, William “has to be kept at arm’s length” to ensure that he maintains his popularity when he becomes king. “His best future is well behind him,” said Fitzwilliams.
As for Andrew, Chard claimed that the Duke of York has been spending more time with his “immediate family,” including daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, since he removed from his royal duties. “I’m sure he’s plotting how he can regain his royal status without the wrath of Prince William,” Chard said. “He could start by honoring his promise to fight the evils of sex trafficking and supporting victims of sex trafficking.”
Chard continued, “Prince William’s most important role is that of dad and husband. However, he is paving the way to be king sooner than anticipated. He is in tune with the public and the younger generation. He realizes that to justify the existence of the royal family, the heaviest burden will soon fall at his feet. This weight always rests on the king or queen.”
William’s feelings toward Andrew also come amid his public feud with his brother, Prince Harry, who has also fallen out with Charles. A source told Us Weekly in May 2025 that William is “done” with Harry after his recent BBC interview in which he blamed their father for their lack of communication. “William doesn’t talk about Harry anymore,” the insider said. “Everyone knows it’s a subject that they shouldn’t bring up, so he hasn’t brought up the interview and won’t.”