Prince Charles was 'resistant' to Prince Andrew attending the Order of Garter service so his wife Camilla would not be upstaged, a royal expert has said.
The Duke of York stepped down from royal duties in the wake of a sex scandal earlier this year.
He denied the allegations against him and later came to an out-of-court settlement with his accuser. The settlement is not an admission of guilt.
He was forced to remain out of sight during the Garter Day procession on Monday after a "family decision" was taken to limit his appearance to a behind-the-scenes lunch and investiture ceremony.
It came after it was reported Charles and his son Prince William lobbied the Queen about Andrew’s participation in Garter Day. It was also reported that William warned he would pull out of the ceremony if his disgraced uncle took part.
And according to royal expert and author Katie Nicholl, Charles was keen that Andrew did not take part as his wife Camilla was being installed as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter that day.
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She wrote in Vanity Fair: "During the service, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was installed as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter, the highest accolade the queen can bestow on a female family member.
"It is, according to friends of Camilla, the one title that the duchess has secretly wanted and was thrilled to receive.
"Prince Charles was keen that his wife’s big moment should not be upstaged by his brother, and Vanity Fair has been told that he was particularly resistant to his brother attending the service and does not want Andrew returning to any official engagements."
It was announced at the very start of this year that Camilla was to be made by the Queen a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is the oldest and most senior of the Orders of Chivalry.
Camilla's elevation to the nation's most prestigious order of chivalry is in recognition of her loyalty and discretion towards the monarchy.
Just a month later in February, the Queen also used the eve of her Platinum Jubilee year to declare that C amilla can take the title Queen Consort when Charles becomes King.
For years insiders were sure Camilla would take the title Princess Consort when her husband takes the throne.
But in a message to the nation, the Queen wrote: “When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me.
“And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
