• Almost one month exactly before Prince Andrew relinquished his prestigious Duke of York title on October 17, he had a deeply awkward exchange with his nephew Prince William.
  • The two men both attended Katharine, the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on September 16, with Andrew freely engaging in conversation with a stone-faced William, as captured on video.
  • William is said to have been involved in the decision for Andrew to surrender his title, and reportedly plans to take an even tougher stance on his uncle once he is king.

It was an awkward moment when it happened last month, but in light of all that has happened since, a resurfaced exchange between Prince William and his uncle Prince Andrew is even more cringeworthy now.

Prince Andrew and Prince William.

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Both men attended the September 16 funeral of Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral. As the Prince of Wales and the former Duke of York stood outside on the steps of the Cathedral, Andrew can be seen trying to engage in conversation with William. Smiling and laughing, Andrew looks animated—while the future king kept a straight face and never said anything in return to his uncle, only slightly nodding. Later in the painfully awkward clip, William appears happy to engage in conversation with a man who appears to be Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the husband of William’s aunt Princess Anne.

Many royals were in attendance at the funeral, including King Charles, Kate Middleton, and Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife. Both Andrew and Ferguson lost their respective Duke and Duchess of York titles just over one month later on October 17 as accusations continue to pile up regarding both of their connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The awkward video on the steps of Westminster Cathedral was but a glimpse of what was to come.

Prince Andrew and Prince William on September 16, 2025.

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Per People, a palace source said that William and his father the King were in lockstep as far as the decision for Andrew to no longer use his prestigious Duke of York title, which he received as a wedding gift from his mother, Queen Elizabeth, 39 years ago. According to The Sunday Times, unlike Charles, William is not satisfied with Andrew merely surrendering his titles and, when William takes the throne someday, he reportedly plans to go a step further, banning his uncle from all aspects of royal life—from his coronation to private family Christmas gatherings at Sandringham.

Ferguson will also be banned from royal life, but their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie—William’s cousins—will still be welcome.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Andrew at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral.

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“Gradually, since the Queen’s death, it has dawned on Andrew that he might really be booted out of the royal fold altogether,” royal biographer Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly. “His titles, his privilege, his status all mattered to him. But that has all been peeled away over the last few years, and now he’s just hanging on by his fingertips.”

Of the 30-room mansion he lives in with Ferguson, Andersen continued, “What matters most to Prince Andrew these days are all the perks—being able to hold on to Royal Lodge, his palatial home on the grounds of Windsor, maintaining a private staff, and a cushy lifestyle. His reputation may be in tatters, but I think he’s reached the stage where it’s the creature comforts that matter to him most.”

Prince William, Prince Andrew, and Kate Middleton.

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“Prince Andrew was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite child, and he could get away with pretty much anything when she was alive,” he added. “He grew used to that. Andrew has a definite arrogant streak, so instinctively he puts up a fight whenever he’s called on the carpet by his big brother. But as the scandals keep piling up, he is increasingly resigned to the fact that he has dug a hole for himself he can’t climb out of.”