Prince Andrew is “less of a problem” to the Royal Family than “loose cannon” Prince Harry because he “hasn’t spilled secrets”, an expert has claimed.
The Duke of York’s friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has come in for heavy criticism over the past few years, leading him to step back from royal duties in 2019.
Andrew has remained largely silent on the subject bar a disasterous interview on BBC Newsnight with journalist Emily Maitlis that same year.
Harry, along with his wife Meghan Markle, stepped down as a senior working royal when moving to the US in 2020, but he has made a string of claims against the Royal Family in TV interviews, a Netflix documentary series, and his memoir, Spare.
Now, Royal Family historian Andrew Lownie, who is publishing a biography of Prince Andrew next year, believes the Duke of York is a “loyalist” and is “less of a problem than Harry”.
He told The Daily Beast: “Harry is a loose cannon and Meghan even more so. They both have more books coming. The strategy, I believe, is to keep in with him and to marginalize her, which is exactly what they did with Wallis and the Duke of Windsor.
“Andrew has been loyal to a certain extent. He’s made some implicit threats, and things have been floated about books and TV interviews, but ultimately he is a loyalist.
“Andrew is less of a problem than Harry. He may become more of a problem, especially when my book comes out because I think there will be things in there that will rock the boat.
“But he’s not been rude about Camilla. He’s not set out to destabilize the monarchy. He hasn’t spilled secrets.”
The relationship between the monarch and Harry has plunged to rock bottom, with the father and son not believed to have met face-to-face for several months.
A family friend of the King’s believes there has been a clear willingness to bring Andrew in from the cold – suggesting it is something that could eventually lead to a reconciliation with Harry.
The source told The Daily Beast: “The extent to which the king has publicly made it clear Andrew is still part of the family has caught some people by surprise.
“But ultimately, he has the interests of the monarchy at heart, and that means a united family, whatever its problems. Hopefully, that message is getting through to Harry and Meghan.”
It comes after it was revealed King Charles has been letting Prince Andrew stay in the 30-room Royal Lodge residence in Berkshire, England.
However, the property requires urgent renovations costing several millions of dollars, with a plan being mooted for him to move to Frogmore Lodge – the former UK home of Harry and Meghan.
A royal insider said: “No one, not least His Majesty, believes there is any realistic, long-term chance of the Duke of York being able to keep the roof at Royal Lodge over his head.
“It’s a massive property and an estate that requires a huge amount of upkeep.”
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