The strained relationship between Princes Charles and Andrew – Eugenie row, cash, and a ‘dagger to the heart’

Both Princes were given lavish weddings in the 1980s when they married their respective ex-wives, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson.

Diana and Sarah knew each other before becoming royal, and their friendship deepened when they joined The Firm, and they were frequently photographed chatting at events such as Ascot and Wimbledon.

They even took their kids skiing together, with Fergie frequently referring to Diana as her best friend.

This meant Charles and Andrew spent a lot of time together, with royal expert Katie Nicholl remarking that the brothers had “more companionship between them at that stage in their lives than perhaps at any other.”

Neither marriage, however, lasted, and both were divorced by 1996.

Slimmed-down monarchy

Charles has spent his entire life as the heir to the throne preparing for the day he ascends to the throne to become King.

And it’s long been reported that he intends to run the monarchy with a team of seven senior royals, which excludes Prince Andrew and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

This came to a head in 2011, when Beatrice and Eugenie were deprived of their taxpayer-funded 24-hour security.

According to one royal expert, Charles was forced to intervene in the debate over funding for Beatrice and Eugenie’s security after a squabble broke out behind the palace walls.

According to a report published at the time, Eugenie spent more than £100,000 of taxpayers’ money travelling through India, America, Thailand, and South Africa.

According to royal author Angela Levin, who appeared on the show Beatrice and Eugenie: Pampered Princesses?, Charles stepped in to control the spending. He suggested that the sisters do not require expensive security because it is unlikely that they will ever become working royals.

Charles’ suggestion, however, did not go down well and is said to have enraged Andrew.

Meanwhile, another incident between the brothers is said to have enraged Andrew.

It happened in 2012, during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and a royal appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony was planned.

According to reports, Charles was involved in the decision to allow only senior royals such as the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, and the Duchess of Cambridge to appear on the balcony, which disappointed Andrew.

In 2012, royal expert Richard Kay wrote in the Daily Mail: “According to one close source, Andrew’s exclusion from the balcony scene was a sudden and unexpected demotion from front-rank to peripheral royal, and it was ‘like a dagger to his heart, and he hasn’t gotten over it.’

“But this was a dramatic declaration of intent by Charles, who has long decided that when he becomes king, the Royal Family will be’slimmed down.’

“However, as one of the Duke of York’s friends put it, ‘the speed and suddenness with which Charles has acted has taken Andrew’s breath away; it’s dreadfully high-handed.'”

Stripping titles

Virginia Giuffre began the process of suing Andrew in a civil case in New York last year for allegedly sexually assaulting her as a teenager. Andrew categorically denies all allegations.

While the case was being heard in court, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew would not be performing any public duties and that his military associations and royal patronages had been returned to the Queen.

Charles, along with his son William, is said to have had a hand in the decision to remove Andrew’s titles.

And royal expert Robert Jobson said they didn’t have much of a choice.

“Prince Andrew will be devastated by the way the royal family has abandoned him,” he told the Mirror.

“However, the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William, the main actors in this shocking move, will feel they had no choice.”

Following the announcement from Buckingham Palace, a reporter questioned Charles about Andrew, but he did not respond.

Settling the case

Last month, it was announced that Andrew and Virginia Giuffre had reached an out-of-court settlement, and that the case would not go to trial.

According to sources, Charles, along with the Queen, applied “substantial pressure” on Andrew to settle the case.

The Firm is said to have desired an agreed-upon settlement so that the case did not overshadow the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

According to well-placed royal sources, Andrew was under “intense pressure from the very top” to reach an agreement after a US judge rejected the duke’s bid to have the case dismissed.

Her Majesty heeded the advice of Charles and William, who had been summoned to meet her at Windsor Castle just minutes after Andrew broke the news. “It was made absolutely clear to Andrew that he has to sort this mess out,” a source said.

“It would have been unthinkable for the case to have gone to trial in front of the world’s media.”

“It was a disaster from the start, and everyone agreed it had the potential to seriously harm not only his reputation but also that of the monarchy.” “Enough was enough in such an important year for the Queen.”