Get you up to speed: Andrew snubs offer of holiday at Balmoral over fears he’ll be an ‘outcast’ | News UK
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not join King Charles and the royal family for a holiday at Balmoral due to concerns about being treated as an outcast. A friend reported that Andrew feels abandoned and sees no benefit in attending the gathering.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor transferred to a property on the Sandringham Estate owned by King Charles following revelations concerning his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the allegations and the removal of his coat of arms from Windsor Castle, royal sources indicated that he retains his status as a member of the royal family and is included in governmental plans for a ceremonial funeral.
King Charles invited Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to join the royal family at Balmoral; however, Andrew declined, feeling abandoned and fearing he would be treated as an “outcast.” Despite public criticism and having lost many royal titles, he remains on a secret government list of royals eligible for a ceremonial funeral.
What remains unclear — It is not specified when Andrew last publicly interacted with the royal family.
Andrew declines King Charles’s Balmoral holiday invitation over concerns of being isolated
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor won’t be joining King Charles and the royal family for a holiday at Balmoral for fear he’d be made an ‘outcast’.
King Charles is said to have invited his disgraced younger brother to join the family in Scotland, but a friend has revealed Andrew won’t be joining.
‘Andrew feels he’s been abandoned. He feels like he is no longer part of the family,’ a friend told The Sun.
‘He was invited but has got no great desire to be at Balmoral as he has nothing to gain and would be treated as an outcast.
‘What’s the point, he feels, of going all the way there for a much-needed holiday and being treated as an elephant in the room?’
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Earlier this year, the disgraced former duke moved to a property on the slightly smaller Sandringham Estate, which King Charles personally owns.
Royal sources said that Andrew remains a member of the royal family and ‘there is a duty of care owed to him’.
He moved after disclosures showed the extent of his closeness to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing.
Photographs released last year showed Mountbatten-Windsor in compromising positions, including kneeling over a woman lying on the ground.
Almost a year ago, he gave up his remaining titles following the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s memoirs.
Andrew also saw his coat of arms torn down from Windsor Castle amid allegations about his relationships with Epstein.
The unceremonious removal of a coat of arms is usually reserved for serious cases of high treason or taking up arms against the Crown.
Public outcry against Andrew led to the serious repercussions, but earlier this month it was revealed that he will still have a royal ceremonial funeral even after having his titles stripped.
The disgraced ex-Prince is still on a secret government list of royals who will receive high-profile funerals.
The arrangement is part of the government’s so-called ‘bridge’ plans, which prepare for the deaths of Royal Family members long in advance, the Mail on Sunday reported.