Prince William Shuts Door on Prince Andrew’s Royal Comeback, Citing “Risks” to Monarchy
Prince Andrew will not be returning to royal duties — not now, and not under Prince William’s future reign, according to royal insiders.
Sources close to the Prince and Princess of Wales say the couple views the Duke of York, 65, as a serious “threat” to the integrity of the monarchy. Despite years out of the public spotlight, Prince William reportedly has no intention of welcoming his scandal-plagued uncle back into the fold.
The main concern? Andrew’s past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo — connections that Prince William believes represent a lingering “risk” to the royal family’s reputation, The Times of London reports.
Andrew’s name resurfaced in controversy again after Tengbo was banned from the UK following an MI5 investigation. This, according to insiders, only solidified William’s stance. “The door to a return is firmly closed,” a royal source told The Sun.
In recent months, Prince Andrew’s exclusion from major royal events has been glaring. He was notably absent from last week’s Garter Day ceremony for the fourth consecutive year and did not appear at this year’s Trooping the Colour — an event also skipped by his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The heir to the throne even went out of his way to avoid engaging with his uncle during the family’s Easter Sunday service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Both King Charles and Prince William reportedly agree on minimizing Andrew’s presence at public events, maintaining distance ever since Andrew stepped back from royal life amid public backlash over his Epstein connection.
Prince William, 43, has been open about reshaping the monarchy in a more modern image. During a visit to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize Awards, he shared his vision for a new kind of royal leadership — one centered on empathy, collaboration, and service. “I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like,” he said.
As Prince William looks ahead to a future where the monarchy is leaner and more focused, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Andrew — like Prince Harry — is unlikely to play any meaningful role.
