Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Prince Andrewis supporting his brotherKing Charlesat his historic coronation.
The Duke of York, 63, arrived at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday for the historic service, where King Charles, 74, andQueen Camilla, 75, will be officially crowned.
Though Prince Andrew isno longera working royal, he has continued to attend family events such as the traditionalEaster Sunday church serviceand their walk to church onChristmasin December.
Just before the royal family filed into Westminster Abbey, it was announced that both Prince Andrew andPrince Harry— Charles' son — would have no formal role during Saturday’s festivities and would not join the procession from the ceremony to Buckingham Palace,CBS Newsreported.
Andrew was dressed in blue robes featuring a red sash as he arrived to the service Saturday, whilePrince Harry wore a morning suitfor the occasion, following the dress code for most of the congregation — a fashion choice PEOPLE understands Harry requested.
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“I personally will be having a little tearoom and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting, that’s what I’m going to be doing. Because that would make me very happy,” Sarah, affectionately known as Fergie, said on April 5. “I also love to watch it on the telly because you hear a lot on the telly. The commentators are always good. And then all the family come back.”
“Because, remember, I am divorced from him,” she continued, referencing her relationship with Prince Andrew. “I don’t expect — you can’t have it both ways. You can’t be divorced and then say, ‘I want this.‘You’re in or you’re out.”
Prince Andrew and Fergie wed in 1986, receiving the titles of Duke and Duchess of York upon their marriage. They went on to welcome their two daughters before splitting in 1992 and divorcing in 1996. Though the marriage ended over 25 years ago, the pair remained close as co-parents and continued to live together in Windsor.
While Prince Andrew has joined the rest of the royal family for major events likePrince Philip’smemorial servicein March 2022 andQueen Elizabeth’sstate funeralin September, he no longer undertakes public engagements as a working royal. The Duke of Yorkmade headlines worldwidewhen his affiliation with the now-convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epsteincame to light in 2019. Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
In January 2022, the day after a judge in the U.S. rejected Prince Andrew’s attempt to have Epstein tracking victimVirginia Giuffre’ssexual assault lawsuit against the prince dismissed, Buckingham Palace announced thatQueen Elizabethhadstripped her sonof his military titles and patronages. The Duke of York would no longer undertake public engagements as a working royal or use the “His Royal Highness” styling.
About a month after Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles, he and Giuffre reached anout-of-court settlementfor an undisclosed amount.
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During a U.S. press tour for her latest novel,A Most Intriguing Lady, Fergie said it was difficult to see the “demise” of her ex-husband.
“You’ve been divorced for many, many years, and yet you’ve been Andrew’s rock,“Good Morning Americacorrespondent Juju Chang asked the Duchess of York in March. “What’s it been like watching him go through this withering public scrutiny?”
“So sad, so sad,” she replied. “We’ve been there for each other — you know, when I’ve gone through really bad times in the past, Andrew’s always been there.”
“He is exceptionally kind, and he is a very, seriously good grandfather. He’s very steadfast for the girls,” Fergie continued, referencingPrincess Beatrice, 34, andPrincess Eugenie, 33. “We are women that also have had to see the demise of a very strong man, and that has been really difficult to see.”
source: people.com
