PRINCE Andrew has joined King Charles at Balmoral for a summer holiday after fresh revelations about his treatment of staff emerged in a recently published book.
Andrew arrived on Tuesday, with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, to Craigowan Lodge, a seven-bedroom royal cottage within walking distance of a nine-hole golf course on the estate.
It is expected that their daughters, Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, with join them later in the summer.
On Monday morning, Charles arrived in the Aberdeenshire castle in his state Bentley and inspected regimental mascot Corporal Cruachan IV, a Shetland pony, as it stood with handler Corporal Rory Stewart while the monarch inspected his Royal Guard.
A Guard of Honour was held by Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS), to officially welcome the King to Balmoral, although he attended a church service there on Sunday in a private capacity.
Andrew was previously was banned from Christmas at Sandringham due to his connections with a Chinese man accused of being a spy.
But he has been invited to Balmoral after an unflattering biography of the disgraced duke by Andrew Lownie, published this month, delved into the private life of the late Queen’s son, depicting him as sex obsessed, a “useful idiot” and easy prey for Jeffrey Epstein.
The book comes as two-thirds of Britons say they believe Andrew should be stripped of his remaining royal titles, according to a new poll.
Three years ago, 62% believed Andrew should have his York title removed, with the current 67% in favour figure seeing a jump of five percentage points.
A recent YouGov survey found that just 5% have a positive view of the King’s brother, with Andrew languishing at the bottom of the royal favourability tables, beneath the Duchess of Sussex, who has a 20% positive rating and the Duke of Sussex at 28%.
Legislation would be required for Parliament to prevent Andrew from continuing as the Duke of York, while his birthright to be a prince, as the son of a monarch, could be changed if a Letters Patent were issued by the King.
The duke stopped using the style of His Royal Highness following his disastrous Newsnight interview, but it could be removed entirely by a Letters Patent.
Research on the removal of Andrew’s York dukedom, as well as his princely title, by YouGov found that:
- 67% of the public would back the removal
- Some 13% opposed the removal of his titles
- 21% were unsure
