Prince Andrew was allowed to wear his garter robes during the King’s coronation, reflecting an apparent softening of Charles’s stance towards him.
Andrew, who abdicated royal duties following a controversial Newsnight interview and the furore over his friendship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, wore the ceremonial robes at Saturday’s service at Westminster Abbey.
The Duke of York, who ceased using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity in January 2022, was allowed to wear the robes despite the late Queen’s ban on wearing them in public for her final Garter Day at Windsor Castle.
Last June, Andrew did not appear with senior members of the family at the annual Order of the Garter, despite being a Knight of the Garter. His absence was notable at the time and Buckingham Palace had described it as a ‘family decision’.
But while Andrew had no official role in yesterday’s events, he still wore his Order of the Garter robes, which hold special significance for the royals.
Prince Andrew wore ceremonial robes during Saturday’s coronation service at Westminster Abbey
Andrew was allowed to wear his garter robes during the King’s coronation, reflecting an apparent softening of Charles’s stance towards him
The Queen had forbidden Andrew from wearing his garter robes in public for her last garter day at Windsor Castle
Meanwhile, it is believed that Prince Harry wore what he was asked to wear, which is a dark morning suit and tie.
The Mirror reported yesterday that they were informed by the palace two weeks ago that Andrew would not be in garter robes.
The Order of the Garter is the oldest and highest order of chivalry in Great Britain.
According to the Royal Family website, King Edward III was so inspired in the Middle Ages by the stories of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he founded his own group of honorable knights, the Order of the Garter.
Today, the order includes the king, who is Sovereign of the Garter, “several senior members of the royal family and 24 knights elected in recognition of their work,” the website said.
The Order of the Garter robes are made of dark blue velvet and can be accompanied by a cap.
The robe has a white satin lining, white silk bows on the shoulders, an attached red velvet hood and tassels.
While Andrew put on garter robes, Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, wore a morning suit with his medals.
Harry is a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order having been appointed by the late Queen in 2015.
This means that he would be entitled to wear the order’s bright blue mantle.
Prince Andrew looked serious as he left Westminster Abbey yesterday
Clearly, Prince Harry wore what he was asked to wear, which consisted of a dark morning suit and tie
Yesterday’s ceremony was a Collar Day, meaning the Windsors could wear morning dress with cloaks befitting the highest order they belonged to
Neither Harry nor Andrew are working members of the royal family and so had no official role in the day
Yesterday’s ceremony was a Collar Day, meaning the Windsors could wear a morning dress with mantles befitting the highest Order they belonged to – the Order of the Garter, Thistle or Royal Victorian Order.
The royal family wore a series of intricate gowns and grand velvet mantles that signified their membership in historic orders of knighthood at the coronation of the king and queen.
On the morning of the coronation, as Andrew was driven through The Mall in a state car towards Westminster Abbey, a small group in the crowd in a stand outside Buckingham Palace jeered as he passed.
Andrew took part in events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, but Charles, other than mourning his mother, has shown no signs of allowing him a return to public life.
Andrew stepped out of public life after a controversial Newsnight interview in November 2019 and the furor over his friendship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew denied the claims, but paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in the US civil suit.
It emerged in March that Prince Andrew does not want to move into Frogmore Cottage as he sees it as a ‘downgrade’ from his 30-room Royal Lodge – even though King Charles is thought to have kicked Harry and Meghan out of the house to hand him the keys.
The Duke of York doesn’t want to leave his mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle, despite telling friends he fears he won’t be able to afford maintenance if the King cuts his £250,000 a year allowance.
Andrew is currently reportedly paying £250 a week for a state-subsidized 30-room mansion complete with 98 acres of land and a swimming pool – and doesn’t want to leave it after 20 years.
The Duke of York will lose £250,000 a year in funding from the King as part of a shake-up of the royal private finances and has had to sell assets including a £19 million ski chalet to cover the cost of settling the matter. sex scandal with Virginia Roberts Giuffre.