Being connected to the controversial Prince Andrew is probably as uncomfortable for King Charles as wearing wet socks. Yet, the Prince is family, and it’s not like Charles is about to throw his own brother under the bus anytime soon. And just as the King graciously gave his wayward son Harry an audience, the monarch continues to let Andrew roam free, enjoying the luxuries of royalty. However, with the recent exposure of a disturbing email between the King’s brother and the infamous Jeffrey Epstein, it seems the Palace is not welcoming Andrew to this year’s Christmas party.
According to The Times, Charles won’t “banish someone worshipping at church or attending family occasions like a funeral,” but he would like Prince Andrew to “find a more discreet way of attending these events.” The Duke of York made a rare public appearance during the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September. Despite the public being very aware of what Andrew has been accused of doing in the past, he doesn’t seem to mind frolicking about on camera and even smiling to demonstrate his jolliness to the world. The Times source even admits that “he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it.”
As for this ban from the Royal Family’s Christmas celebration, many fans of the Palace feel as though King Charles’ punishment for Prince Andrew was nothing more than a last-minute PR decision after the shocking Epstein email had resurfaced. “Charles has known the extent of their involvement with Epstein for a long time,” remarks a commenter. “The time to take action on Andrew was in the early 2000s. Anything the royals do now is too little too late,” adds another online user. “The damage is done!“
Others point out how King Charles did this whole PR stunt last year with Prince Andrew as well after last year’s whole Chinese spy scandal. Yet, Andrew had no trouble coming back out of the woodwork with no regrets on his mind. One person compares it to simply being sent to bed without supper. “It’s their normal punishment that bypasses the need for any real accountability or punishment.” A second commenter chimes in: “Removing titles, being banned from public appearances, or kicked out of a mansion are NOT punishments for sexually assaulting traffic teenagers,” claiming that all this Christmas ban is just a “pointless performative” show.
Besides the Chinese government or Epstein, it’s no secret that Prince Andrew holds ties to a very shady network. Missing out on Christmas dinner with his brother and the Royal Family at the Palace affects him very little, if not at all. And as one person points out, “It’s not what he did, it’s that it became public.” Many believe the only reason King Charles is taking action now is because this Epstein email came to light; otherwise, he’ll defend his criminal brother for as long as he’s around.
