King Charles could risk “bringing the Royal Family into disrepute” if he makes a major decision on the future of Prince Andrew, according to a royal commentator.
The monarch has been grappling with how to handle his younger brother and former sister-in-law, Sarah Ferguson, as their past relationship to the late Jeffrey Epstein continues to draw public scrutiny.
Renewed attention was drawn to the Yorks over the weekend after emails the duchess had sent to Epstein in 2011 surfaced.
In the communications, Fergie was seen to profusely apologise to the late convicted sex offender for publicly disowning him just weeks earlier and referred to him as her "supreme friend”.
King Charles could risk 'bringing Royal Family into disrepute’ if chooses to banish Prince Andrew further from royal life
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Prince Andrew has been excluded from royal affairs for the last six years because of his friendship with Epstein, which was highlighted in his disastrous Newsnight interview in November 2019.
As a result of the recent disclosures, there is growing speculation that King Charles may further banish the Yorks from the royal fold.
One such measure may be revoking Prince Andrew’s membership of the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious and one of the oldest chivalric orders in Britain.
However, a veteran royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has warned that the revocation of such a beloved title could “risk bringing the Royal Family into disrepute’.
Andrew could have his rank in the Order of the Garter revoked
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Mr Fitzwilliams argued that the magnitude of the gesture would naturally draw further attention to Andrew’s position within the Firm - scrutiny the King would not wish to foster.
The Duke of York currently maintains his rank within the order but has been banned from attending its annual costumed processions through Windsor.
However, he is permitted to attend the luncheon afterwards but would no longer be able to join, nor hold his rank of Royal Knight Companion, if his membership of the order was made null.
The commentator advised that such revocations have only occurred “in extremis" - usually in times of war.
Removing the duke from the Garter Order would be a historically significant move for the King
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The last Garter Knight be removed from the order was the Japanese Emperor Hirohito during the Second World War, before being readmitted in 1971.
Others previous members banished include Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm and Emperor Franz Jospeh of Austria-Hungary in World War One.
As such, the total removal of Prince Andrew would represent a historic decision for King Charles.
With that gravity in mind, Mr Fitzwilliams suggested the move would not be worth the likely lukewarm public reaction.
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Mr Fitzwilliams advised King Charles that: ''If you withdraw Andrew and Fergie from everything you can't influence them'
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“It wouldn’t resonate necessarily with the public,” he said.
The veteran commentator compared the hypothetical move to Parliament deciding to revoke Andrew’s dukedom.
“It would be up to Parliament to remove that, but the point is the Royal Family do not want a debate (on Andrew) in Parliament,” he stressed.
Instead, Mr Fitzwilliams suggested a more arm's length, measure approach to the Yorks.
“If you withdraw Andrew and Fergie from everything you can't influence them,” he advised.