According to a Royal expert, Prince William “pulled rank” on the ‘toxic’ Prince Andrew during a frosty encounter between the two.
The majority of senior members of the Royal Family gathered earlier this week to pay their respects to the late Duchess of Kent, wife of the Duke of Kent, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 92.
At the conclusion of the service at Westminster Cathedral, as the Duchess’s coffin was transported to the hearse for a private burial at Windsor, William, his wife Kate, and other royals stood on the steps of the building to bid their final farewells.
During this time, the disgraced Andrew, known for his tumultuous relationship with his nephew, the Prince of Wales, attempted to engage in conversation with him.
Andrew was seen smiling at William, who maintained a forward gaze during their uncomfortable exchange, with reports suggesting that William was ‘furious’ at being cornered by his uncle during the solemn ceremony, reports the Mirror.
Royal expert Jennie Bond, commenting on the photos capturing the awkward interaction, said it reinforced what we already suspect to be true.
The former BBC Royal correspondent told the Mirror: “William finds his uncle an embarrassment to the monarchy. I think it was an illustration of the fact that when William has made up his mind about something, he sticks to it.
“And that is by no means a bad thing. It would be hypocritical of him to pretend all is well when there is clearly tension between himself and Andrew. William looked intensely uncomfortable as Andrew tried to make conversation. It was a supremely awkward moment in what was a very solemn occasion.
“I think the body language proved that William is the top dog in this relationship: a future King who outranks his uncle. Andrew has demonstrated time and again that he is bizarrely oblivious to how toxic he now is.
“It was crass of him to try to get some banter going – especially at such a sad occasion and when the cameras were quite clearly on him and William. Andrew’s big brother and his other siblings tolerate him, but William is a different generation with a different outlook.”
When Andrew turned up at the funeral last week with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, there were audible gasps amongst onlookers outside.
Jennie went on: “I can understand that Andrew wanted to attend the funeral, but once again he demonstrated that he has very little appreciation of how the public – and many of his family – feel about him and the damage he’s done to the monarchy.
“He could have stood quietly at the back of the group, away from the cameras and the senior members of the Royal family, such as William. Instead, he chose to position himself right next to his nephew .
“It was further proof, if proof were needed, that the Duke of York simply doesn’t understand the strength of public opinion against him.”