In what might be said to be the most ruthless move of his reign, the King has pronounced that Prince Andrew is no longer a prince. It is a monumental move considering no prince anywhere, ever, has minded more about being a prince than mister Andrew Mountbatton-Windsor. It was his life blood and dictated every moment of his day. A friend of his says, “if he walked into a room and no one got up he would say ‘let’s try that again’ and go out. It’s a royal knock-out of a blow to him personally, but also one that raises many questions. Not least what will be the fate of the two princesses and his former duchess?
So far the word from the palace has been stark: Andrew M-W is to be booted out of his Royal Lodge mansion and rehomed on the Sandringham estate but no provision is to be made for his roomie Sarah Ferguson; and while there is no suggestion that Princess Beatrice and Eugenie will be de-titled, nothing has been said about their existing royal perks, like security and the peppercorn rent Eugenie, who mainly lives in Portugal, pays on her London home Ivy Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
