King Charles ‘might by no means communicate to Andrew once more’ except main change occurs
King Charles has reportedly cut off his brother Andrew for good to protect the monarchy from legal peril and scandal, despite other royals reaching out to the former Prince
King Charles reportedly has no plans to reconcile with his brother (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
King Charles may have cut ties with his brother Andrew for good as the disgraced former Prince remains frozen out in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. While other senior royals appear to be softening their stance, the 77-year-old monarch is reportedly standing firm, with insiders claiming there is “no chance whatsoever” of a brotherly reunion.
Speculation of a royal thaw emerged after Prince Edward made a secret trip to visit Andrew in exile at Sandringham.
It was followed by reports that Princess Anne had reached out to check on the ex-Duke’s wellbeing following his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. But sources close to the Palace have been quick to shut down any hopes of the King following suit.
The relationship between the brothers has been icy for years, but the current silence is being described as “deafening.” A source told the Daily Mail: “The hard reality is that the King may never speak to Andrew again.
“It would take an enormous shift in the King’s thinking for them even to be in the same room. The fact that Edward has now visited Andrew and that Anne has spoken to him too might appear to suggest that Charles might be contemplating some kind of rapprochement – but that’s completely wrong.”
Sources claim the King feels he was “lied to” regarding the Epstein scandal, which has decimated any remaining trust.
There is also a massive constitutional nightmare at play. If the King were to speak with Andrew while he faces potential criminal charges, it could trigger a legal collapse.
Because court cases are brought in the King’s name, His Majesty cannot be called to give evidence. If Andrew’s lawyers argued that conversations with the King were vital to the case, the entire prosecution could fall apart.
The source added: “The unequivocal advice he has been given in regard to Andrew is that he is damaging the monarchy. So the King has to completely disassociate himself both publicly and privately from him.”
The tension between the pair allegedly stretches back to their childhood, fuelled by an 11-year age gap and very different personalities. Andrew was long considered the late Queen’s favourite, while Charles carried the weight of the throne.
Charles reportedly opposed Andrew’s former role as a trade envoy, fearing it would lead to the exact reputational disaster that eventually unfolded.
Meanwhile, biographer Andrew Lownie claims Andrew even believed he was better suited for the throne than Charles, whom he allegedly viewed as “weak.” While Princess Anne and Prince Edward are said to be performing welfare checks out of concern for Andrew’s mental state in isolation, the King is reportedly looking at the bigger picture.
For Charles, the survival of the Crown is understood to outweigh family loyalty. By maintaining a total quarantine around his brother, he is suggested to be attempting to protect the monarchy from legal jeopardy and public outrage.
It’s further claimed that as far as the Palace is concerned, the King has drawn a line in the sand and has no intention of crossing it.
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