Prince William is said to view his uncle, Prince Andrew, as a “direct threat” to the monarchy and is reportedly frustrated with how King Charles is handling the situation.
Andrew, 65, has been embroiled in scandal for years, and tensions within the family appear to be worsening. At the Duchess of Kent’s funeral last week, one royal expert suggested William “pulled rank” on his uncle after what was described as Andrew’s “crass” behavior.
Disagreement Over Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
According to a source speaking to ShuterScoop, King Charles believes keeping Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson close to the family somehow protects the monarchy. Others, however, including William, see the move as “reckless, naïve, and frankly stupid.”
The criticism came as Ferguson, 65, faced fresh scrutiny after reports surfaced that she had sent Jeffrey Epstein an email in 2011, just weeks after vowing publicly to cut ties with the convicted sex offender. Her spokesperson later claimed the message was sent under duress, explaining Epstein had threatened legal action against her for associating him with paedophilia.
“William is focused on the crown’s future,” the source said. “He knows the public has no appetite for Andrew or Fergie being anywhere near the royal stage. He sees this as a direct threat. It’s a generational divide. William wants a clean break. Charles can’t let go. And unless he does, the monarchy risks going down with Andrew and Fergie.”
Signs of Strain at the Funeral
The tension between William and Andrew was also visible at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral. Standing on the steps of Westminster Cathedral, Andrew appeared to try and engage William in conversation, but the Prince of Wales showed little interest.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond told The Mirror that the moment revealed much about their relationship. “William finds his uncle an embarrassment to the monarchy,” she said. “I think the body language proved that William is the top dog in this relationship: a future king who outranks his uncle. Andrew has demonstrated time and again that he is bizarrely oblivious to how toxic he now is.”
She added that trying to joke around with William during such a solemn occasion was “crass,” especially under the glare of cameras.
Reports suggest William is pressing his father to act more decisively. While Charles is said to want to maintain ties with his brother and former sister-in-law — a stance previously taken by the late Queen Elizabeth II — palace insiders speculate that Andrew and Fergie could soon be barred from major public events such as the royal family’s annual Christmas Day walkabout.
There is also speculation that Charles may finally evict the pair from Royal Lodge in Windsor, a move William is said to be demanding “as a minimum.”
Kensington Palace has not commented on the reports.
