Prince Andrew's Attempt At Reinstating His Royal Status Isn't Going How He Hoped

It's been a tumultuous year for Prince Andrew. While Queen Elizabeth's third child has been dealing with the fallout from his involvement in a sexual abuse case since 2019, things really came to a head in January 2022 (per The New York Times). At the start of the year, the Duke of York lost his status as a working royal, and the queen removed some of his most coveted titles. Just as it appeared he was retreating from public life, Andrew made headlines again when he took a leading role in escorting his mother at Prince Philip's memorial service in March (via the Daily Mail). The royal family reportedly regretted Andrew's inclusion at the service, but it was noted that he was still permitted to participate in family events afterward.

Although a suspicious COVID-19 diagnosis kept Andrew away from the Platinum Jubilee weekend, the duke made it clear that he wanted to be back in public life. The Telegraph reported that Andrew had plans to join senior family members at a major royal event: The June 13 Order of the Garter service. Even though this event can't compare to a four-day Platinum Jubilee, Garter Day is renowned for its own style of visually-stunning spectacles. According to The Times, the event features participants riding in carriages, lavishly costumed in velvet with billowing, feathered hats. 

The event seemed tailor-made for Andrew to make a splash, but things didn't turn out as planned.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In a last-minute decision, Prince Andrew did not attend the Order of the Garter service on June 13. According to The Sun, Prince Charles and Prince William reportedly raised objections about Andrew attending the public ceremony. After deliberation, the queen allegedly decided the duke would only attend the private parts of the event. "It was a decision taken by the household for the best interests of the family but also the best interests of the Duke of York," a royal source told the outlet.

As tweeted by the Daily Mail Online, Prince Andrew's name was part of the event's printed program, which serves as evidence that the decision was a late choice. However, the program was later updated. According to the Evening Standard, Prince William reportedly used royal leverage to bar Andrew from the service, with a source claiming that William said he would not attend the event if his uncle participated in the public ceremony. Originally, Andrew hoped to participate in the procession and carriage ride. As journalist Omid Scobie tweeted, Andrew still is "a Knight of the Order of the Garter."

While the duke has been vocal about getting his royal status reinstated, his inability to participate in the Garter Service was a big setback. "His comeback fight is probably doomed," a royal insider told The Sun. "He is delusional if he thinks Charles or William will ever let him back. The Queen is the only person who ever backs Andrew up."

Although he has been stripped of his military titles and can no longer be called "His Royal Highness," per The New York Times, Prince Andrew is still recognized as a "Counsellor of State." According to The Telegraph, this role is currently held by Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Prince Andrew. Although Harry and Andrew are no longer working royals, they retain the role since they're adults close to the head of the line of succession.

As the Daily Mail notes, if Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge were both representing Queen Elizabeth out of the country, it's possible that Andrew could be a representative for his mother if there was a royal duty she could not carry out. Besides being a Counsellor of State, Andrew retains two other titles: Duke of York and Vice-Admiral, per The Telegraph. Reportedly, he is urging Queen Elizabeth to return his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards — "his most coveted title," a source told the outlet.

For now, however, it looks like the queen and senior royals are looking to assist Andrew in a life out of the public eye. As a palace source told the Daily Mail, the family has evidently been engaged in conversations about "how to support the Duke as, away from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction."