Yesterday, March 29, was Prince Philip’s memorial service which took place at Westminster Abbey. After weeks of speculation, the Queen was able to attend her late husband’s memorial service. What many people are wondering, since the service, is why was it Prince Andrew the one who accompanied the Queen and not one of the future heirs?
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Prince Andrew is front and centre
For Prince Philip’s memorial service, it was Prince Andrew who accompanied the Queen from her home in Windsor to Westminster Abbey as well as offering his arm to the Queen as he walk her to her seat. The Duke of York also supported the Queen when they stood for a moment’s silence to honour the late Duke of Edinburgh.
This is Prince Andrew’s first public appearance since he settled his sexual abuse case with Virginia Guiffre.
The Queen decided Prince Andrew would attend Prince Philip’s memorial service as it was deemed a family event and not a public one.
Read more:
⋙ The Queen had an active role in organising Prince Philip’s memorial service
⋙ Prince Philip: Who will attend the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service?
⋙ The public is calling that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew be axed as Counsellors of State
Prince Charles and Prince William were ‘dismayed’
According to the Daily Mail, the future heirs to the throne, Prince Charles and Prince William were ‘dismayed’ that Prince Andrew was the Queen’s right-hand man.
A family source said:
However, they were said to have hoped that 'common sense' would prevail and that Andrew would not seek to play a prominent role.
Senior royals, including Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge, were 'dismayed' by events
They added:
It would be a great shame if the service was overshadowed by all of this. There is a strong sense of regret that this has happened
The reason that it was Prince Andrew that accompanied the Queen on the car journey was that he is the one who lives closest to Her Majesty, therefore it made sense that the Duke of York accompany his mother.
