Despite Prince Andrew's controversies and distancing from the royal family, his mother, Queen Elizabeth, reportedly maintained a close relationship with him until her passing in 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II, England's longest-reigning monarch, passed away in 2022 at the age of 96. Despite her son Prince Andrew's controversies and distancing from the royal family, royal author and Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, Katie Nicholl, claims that Queen Elizabeth remained incredibly close to Andrew until her death.
Nicholl shared her observations with Fox News Digital, revealing that Andrew and his older brother, King Charles, had a complex and often strained relationship. In 2008, before Andrew's association with Jeffrey Epstein came to light, Charles proposed streamlining the monarchy, an idea that Andrew vehemently opposed.
Queen Elizabeth Remained Close to Prince Andrew Until Her Death, Despite Royal Rift
According to Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," Andrew "fought these proposals that would have resulted in his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie each being forced to earn their own living and downgraded from 'Princess' to 'Lady'." Andersen described it as a "literal battle royale" between the brothers, known for their volatile tempers.
Despite their differences, Queen Elizabeth reportedly remained supportive of Andrew and his daughters. Nicholl noted, "Beatrice and Eugenie have always been particularly close to their cousins, William and Harry." They remained favorites of the queen even during Andrew's scandalous divorce from their mother, Sarah Ferguson.
Queen Elizabeth Remained Close to Prince Andrew Until Her Death, Despite Royal Rift
With King Charles and his wife, Camilla, Queen Consort, battling cancer, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have stepped in to support William in his duties. Andersen points out, "Beatrice and Eugenie may have acted as peacemakers in the past, but I don't see that happening now."
The princesses' loyalty to the crown has also been evident in their distancing from Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. Andersen explained, "Standing with Harry and Meghan means standing against the king, William, and Kate." As a result, the sisters have prioritized their relationship with the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth Remained Close to Prince Andrew Until Her Death, Despite Royal Rift
Andrew's connection to Epstein and subsequent sex abuse allegations led to him being stripped of his honorary leadership of charities and his "his royal highness" title. Despite these controversies, Andersen claims that Charles may have regretted his earlier plan to demote Eugenie and Beatrice's royal status.
In a lawsuit filed in 2020, Virginia Roberts Giuffre accused Andrew of sexual exploitation in 2001 when she was 17. Andrew denied any wrongdoing, and the case was eventually settled out of court. Epstein was found dead behind bars in 2019, while his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison term.
Queen Elizabeth Remained Close to Prince Andrew Until Her Death, Despite Royal Rift
Andrew has attempted to keep a low profile in recent years, and his future role within the royal family remains uncertain. However, Nicholl's insights suggest that his mother's love and support remained constant until her death.
