Disgraced Prince Andrew will be 'banished from public life after Queen's funeral' Good Morning Britain guest Andrew Pierce has said.
The Daily Mail editor and columnist took aim at the Prince in a discussion about the decision to allow the Duke of York to don his military uniform for the final vigil in Westminster Hall while Prince Harry will not.
Harry has been denied the chance to wear military uniform as he mourns the Queen, even though his disgraced uncle wore his medals at the lying in state vigil last night.
The ITV morning show discussed the topic as it was pointed out that Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, will be in civilian dress for official events including the late monarch’s state funeral.
“The important thing to remember is Prince Andrew will be banished from public life after this funeral,” Andrew Pierce said.
“That will be it. We won’t see him appearing in public anymore so it is curious that he may be – and you’re right we don’t know that – if he is allowed to wear some sort of military and Harry isn’t, Harry served in Afghanistan, he’s still popular.”
The journalist went on to lay into the disgraced prince, adding: “It will seem like how come the guy who paid £12million to a woman in America he claims he can’t remember meeting, to settle a sex case, is allowed to.
“Part of this is because he is the Queen’s favourite son, we know this, it’s been reported many times.
“She had two children, Charles and Anne, she didn’t spend as much time with as they were growing up because she was a very busy new Queen. She spent more time with Andrew and Edward. That’s how this story has emerged.”
Prince Andrew was banned from wearing his military uniform or even saluting as he watched the late Queen ’s coffin go through Edinburgh yesterday.
The Duke of York was seen with arms by his sides as officers flanking him saluted on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
He gave up his HRH status and was stripped of all honorary military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, over his friendship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
It came after one of the paedophile’s victims, Virginia Roberts, alleged Andrew sexually abused her.
The Duke, who wore a morning suit yesterday, has strenuously denied all the allegations.
Earlier this year he paid a £12million out-of-court settlement to end a civil case in the US. But, he has always strongly denied Ms Giuffre’s claims.
But veteran Andrew did wear his medals yesterday, including the South Atlantic Medal for service in the Falklands War.
The Mirror understands the ban on him wearing uniform will be lifted for the final vigil in Westminster Hall.
Andrew will wear a uniform as a “special mark of respect” for the Queen when he stands guard around her coffin during the Vigil of the Princes, which will be attended by all the late monarch’s children.
The Prince retained his rank as a Vice Admiral, and is expected to wear the corresponding uniform.
His nephew Prince Harry will also not be allowed to wear military uniform for any upcoming occasions.
Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, will be in civilian dress for official events including the funeral.
As with his uncle Andrew, the Duke of Sussex is no longer a working royal.
Only working royals – which Harry and Andrew are not – are being permitted to dress in uniform at five ceremonial occasions around the Queen’s funeral.
These are the St Giles’ Cathedral service in Edinburgh, where Andrew wore a morning suit, and the coffin’s procession to Westminster Hall, the vigil at the lying in state, the funeral in Westminster Abbey and the committal service in Windsor.
However, Andrew wore his medals and Garter star last night and will be allowed to wear uniform for the final vigil around the Queen’s coffin during the lying in state in Westminster Hall.
It is likely to be a bitter blow for ex-soldier Harry, who is proud of his decade in the forces and has the rank of captain, and who was saddened after being stripped of his honorary military roles including Captain General of the Royal Marines by the Queen post-Megxit.
Taking to Twitter, many GMB viewers agreed with Andrew Pierce, with one writing: “Absolutely disgraceful treatment of Harry, while we see that awful man in his medals, shameful.”
A second said: “Harry should be allowed to wear the uniform of his rank achieved during service. He earned it, all the protocol in the world cannot take that away from him. Same for Andrew - It's one day, then he can disappear into the sunset and look after the Queen's corgis.”
Another wrote: “If Harry can’t wear military uniform but Andrew can it tells you all we need to know about the royal family and the ‘firm’ absolutely appalling.”
“So Andrew, with his pretty rotten past can wear his but Harry, who simply dared to put his own wife and family first, can’t?? Nonsense,” another fumed.
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