The Prince of Wales has reportedly been keen ‘not be photographed’ with his uncle recentlyBradley Jolly Overnight News Editor and Lee Grimsditch Nostalgia Writer
07:53, 18 Sep 2025
Prince Andrew and Prince William at the Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
Prince William is said to have been “furious” over Prince Andrew’s surprise appearance at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, according to reports. Onlookers were stunned when the Duke of York and his former wife Sarah Ferguson turned up unexpectedly at Tuesday’s ceremony.
After the moving service at Westminster Abbey, Andrew, 65, was seen appearing to chuckle and grin whilst other senior royals looked solemn. This is said to have particularly angered William, Prince of Wales, who has reportedly been keen “not be photographed” with his uncle recently.
Royal author Andrew Lownie wrote: “William, meanwhile, was ‘furious’ at being ambushed in this way, according to friends.
“He has been at pains to distance himself from his uncle and not be photographed with him. He believes his father has not dealt with him with sufficient firmness and that Andrew – and Sarah Ferguson – have done much to undermine the good work of other members of the Royal Family.”
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, King Charles III and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
The Duke of York faced sexual abuse allegations from Virginia Giuffre, one of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein’s most high-profile victims, reports the Mirror.
The father-of-two Andrew has rejected these claims.
Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here
But Mr Lownie understands “a personal element” has also led William to keep a low profile from Andrew in recent years.
In the Daily Mail, he added: “Apart from concerns about reputational damage, there is also a personal element here which goes back long before the Epstein affair. Andrew is said to have been unwelcoming and rude to Kate when William was dating her – and William supposedly has never forgotten it.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, Duke of York, at the Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
“King Charles, for his part, is caught in a difficult position. A courteous and forgiving man who feels Andrew and Sarah Ferguson should be included in family events, he is also acutely aware of how toxic his brother and sister-in-law are to the royal brand.”
The monarch was pictured making polite conversation with both Andrew and Sarah who, despite their divorce in 1996 after a decade of marriage, still live together at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire.
They travelled together from the residence on Tuesday – guided by a police escort – to Westminster Cathedral for the funeral of Katharine, the wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, who died aged 92 on Thursday September 4.
The Prince of Wales has reportedly been keen “not be photographed” with his uncle recently(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
But Andrew’s appearance came just hours before many senior members of the Royal Family – including the Prince and Princess of Wales – were to cosy up with Donald Trump on his state visit.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
The Royal Family are being deployed, this week, as part of the country’s soft power to indulge Mr Trump amid conflicts abroad.
The President, though, relished the glow of the royal spectacle at Windsor Castle last night during a lavish state banquet.
The politician was earlier greeted by Charles, military honour guards and mounted troops, before he paid a private tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.