While the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge have called for his removal, the Queen is still vouching for Prince Andrew, an expert has claimed.
The monarch is keen on keeping Andrew, 62, close because he is “very loyal”, royal biographer Andrew Morton told The Mirror’s royal podcast, Pod Save the Queen.
The author, who wrote Diana: Her True Story in 1992, said the Queen “deeply appreciates” Andrew’s loyalty to his mother and his actions during the Falklands War and the 1992 Windsor Castle fire.
“He’ll never hear a word against her, he’s always been fiercely loyal,” Morton said.
The monarch is keen on keeping Andrew, 62, close because he is “very loyal”, royal biographer Andrew Morton told The Mirror’s royal podcast, Pod Save the Queen. (pictured together at the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh on 29 March)
He added that Andrew’s military action also impressed his mother.
“She admired the fact that he was an Exocet decoy during the 1982 Falklands War, meaning his job was to protect HMS Invincible (the aircraft carrier) as the Argentines wanted to sink him,” the expert continued .
Morton said the Duke of York was instrumental in ensuring enemy forces did not hit their targets.
He added that Andrew, who was a key target for the Argentines during the conflict, showed a lot of courage.
The Queen, pictured during her Platinum Jubilee celebration, appreciates Andrew’s loyalty and admires how he behaved during the 1982 Falklands War and the 1992 Windsor Castle fire
The author added that this took a lot of courage from Andrew and the Queen appreciated his deeds.
And the author added that the Queen was equally impressed when Andrew “organized the recovery of artworks during the famous Windsor Castle fire in 1992”.
The author said these actions showed a loyalty to the queen that the monarch was unlikely to forget.
Britain looked on when the Duke of York was commissioned to escort his mother to her seat during the emotional memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in March.
At that point, it had been less than two months since Andrew and his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, reached an out-of-court settlement in their New York-based civil sexuality lawsuit.
The Queen chose Andrew to escort her to her seat during the funeral service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey
Andrew, who denied all charges, is said to have agreed to pay Giuffre £12million.
Reflecting on the memorial service, Morton said the Queen used this family occasion, which was not an official state engagement, to show her support for her son.
While he could benefit from his mother’s favours, Prince Andrew is furious with heirs to the throne, Prince Charles and Prince William, for preventing his return to public life at the Order of the Garter ceremony earlier this month, it has been claimed.
The Duke of York had reportedly intended to attend the full service conducted by his mother, the Queen, at Windsor Castle, but was barred from some parts of the Knights of the Garter ceremony after Princes Charles and William expressed their displeasure had.
Meanwhile, the disgraced Prince Andrew, pictured during the Falklands War, is reportedly furious with his brother Prince Charles and nephew Prince William for keeping him out of the Royal Garter ceremony last week
Andrew helped rescue artworks from the flames during the Windsor Castle fire in 1992 (pictured).
The disgraced royal was subsequently prevented from attending this weekend’s Ascot celebrations and is said to be furious at interference from the Queen’s heirs.
There are fears that friction between the trio during their upcoming summer retreat at Balmoral could spark a spat among the royal family.
“Andrew is desperate to rebuild his life and want his titles back,” a source told The Sun.
“But he’s angry with Charles and William for foiling his plans.”
The Queen decided to strip Andrew of his royal titles and the right to use his HRH status amid controversy raised by his links to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Buckingham Palace said the Duke of York’s absence from the procession from Windsor Castle and the Order of the Garter was a “family decision”, but it is believed to have come about after the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge died pressed the Queen for his participation.
Andrew was allowed to accompany the Queen at the formal investiture of new members of the Order of the Garter – including the Duchess of Cornwall and ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair – and the lunch that followed.
It came amid reports that Andrew had been pushing for a return to royal duties, but his older brother Prince Charles and nephew Prince William had pleaded with the Queen not to yield to the disgraced king.