It might be the end of an era for two royal family members, who are reportedly being banished by King Charles III.
While some critics will automatically think it’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the palace has more serious issues on its hands than a family feud. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson‘s close bond with the late sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein is a scandal that won’t go away. Now, The Sunday Times is reporting that the monarch is finally handing down some consequences for their actions.
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A royal insider told the U.K. media outlet that Charles “will keep the duke and duchess at arm’s length after it emerged that Sarah maintained ties with Jeffrey Epstein.” In 2011, Ferguson denounced her friendship with Epstein, but recently revealed emails prove that she stuck with him long after her public outcry.
Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew.
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The Sunday Times is also reporting that the divorced duo is not welcome to the royal family’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham this year and that they should remain “invisible” at all future events.
“You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honorable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions,” the source explained.
The problem for King Charles is that Andrew prefers the spotlight and doesn’t always listen to his older brother, like at the recent funeral of the Duchess of Kent.
“The King is not of the mind to banish someone worshipping at church or attending family occasions like a funeral,” a family friend noted. “But he would hope they would find a more discreet way of attending these events. In the Duke of York’s case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it.”
According to the Daily Beast, Prince William was “boiling with anger” after his uncle was seated near him at the funeral. Prince Andrew was seated directly behind the Prince and Princess of Wales, which one eyewitness described as a “disgrace” because they felt “ambushed” by the controversial royal’s presence.
An earlier Daily Beast article also echoed William’s frustration at his father for always giving Andrew extra chances. “William always said, ‘Just cut Andrew off completely. It’s not appropriate to have an alleged sex offender breaking bread with the royal family.’ Charles was so desperate to be seen as embodying the spirit of Christian forgiveness that he let Andrew back in,” the insider noted.
Now, the royal family is paying the price for King Charles’ “weak” stance on Prince Andrew.
Before you go, click here all the biggest royal scandals in the past 50 years.
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