Prince Andrew made a surprise appearance during the royals' Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham in Norfolk, but was very much on the 'outside', according to a body language expert. Andrew stepped down from officials duties and was stripped of his military affiliations and patronages in the wake of a sex scandal earlier this year.
That meant it was unexpected when he joined serving royals at Sandringham as they returned to their traditional Christmas routine following Covid disruption in 2020 and 2021. King Charles led the family to the service at St Mary Magdalene for the first time following the death of the Queen in September.
While he joined his family for the event, body language expert Judi James said he was on the "outside" of the group and looked "haunted," reports The Mirror. Judi said Andrew looked "very much like the victim of a cull" during the church visit as he walked several paces behind the group.
She said: "Andrew looked very much like the victim of a cull. Charles had walked with his brother away from the crowds in a gesture of loyalty at Andrew's first church service after the notorious BBC interview, but this time Andrew walked alone, alongside but outside the royal pack.
"His wide eyes and his ashen face made him look wary and haunted. His head was held high at times but there appeared to be no one stepping up from the chatty and tactile group of royals to join him or to include him, leaving him walking several paces outside the very upbeat, tactile groups with his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Andrew might have managed a more inclusive look during the Queen's funeral when appearances were more formal and military but in an informal scenario like this, he was revealed to be more on the outside of the royal pack than inside. His facial expression, with a rounded eye, suggested some torment, suggesting he might find it hard to see his public appearances as any form of PR event."
Judi went on to say that while Andrew was on the "outside of the royal pack", it appeared there was fresh dynamic in the family, with another person becoming more 'central'. The expert told how Princess Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, looked like he was being formally "introduced" into royal life.
"Edoardo looked much more central to the dynamic, showing new leadership signals, holding his son's hand in what looked like an introduction to royal life," she said. "Edoardo kept turning around to scan the other royals as though organising them as they went into the church, a role normally taken by Eugenie."
This comes just days after it was reported that King Charles is throwing the Duke of York out of Buckingham Palace. According to a source, Prince Andrew will no longer have an office there or be allowed to use it as a correspondence address.
It is believed that Andrew will keep the 31-bed Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. However, it is currently unclear what will happen to the staff in his office at the palace.
Skeleton staff still remain there after the 62-year-old stepped down from public duties following fallout from his disastrous BBC interview with Emily Maitlis, where he was questioned about his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this year, Andrew paid millions to settle a US civil case brought by his accuser Virginia Giuffre. In an effort to repair what is left of his reputation, Andrew is reportedly recruiting a new communication team and will be expected to foot the bill.
