Easter Sunday is always a big day for the royal family when it comes to appearances, fans are used to them wearing their holiday best as they attend religious services at Windsor. This year, however, things were much different — and it seems that someone at the palace is paying attention to the public’s response.
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s young family was notably, but not unexpectedly, absent due to her recent cancer diagnosis. They are spending their children’s school vacation week at Amner Hall on the Sandringham Estate. King Charles III did attend the services amid his cancer battle, but he decided to allow Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson to join the royal family photo opportunity — and that move raised eyebrows.
Social media users jumped to call out the royal family and their alleged hypocrisy in how they treat Andrew versus Prince Harry. One X user wrote, “It’s stunning to see #PrinceAndrew seen as emblematic of the monarchy but Prince Harry seen as someone who sullies the institution? Truly, values are overturned as the world seems to be going mad.” At this point, it’s no secret that the Duke of York’s former association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is still highly problematic. “well its the uk – where people like andrew are protected no matter what,” added another account.
The optics aren’t great for the royal family, and it seems they read the room (just a little bit) because after letting Andrew parade around on the walk to church, he was notably missing from the official snapshots released by the palace. “The King and Queen, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and other members of the Royal Family attended the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel today,” the caption reads on the royal family’s Instagram account.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Edward were all featured in the carousel, but Andrew and Sarah were noticeably scrubbed. It’s a surprise that Andrew was included at all given the fact that his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview is about to get the spotlight again. Netflix’s movie, Scoop, is premiering on Friday, April 5 with Rufus Sewell starring as Andrew, and it doesn’t paint the Duke of York in a very flattering light. After watching the press screener, he’s portrayed as a delusional royal who seems proud of himself after the disastrous interview.
With the royal family struggling in the press and behind palace walls, it’s surprising they even chose to have Prince Andrew represent them in any capacity.
Before you go, click here to see the 100 best photos of the royal family from the past 20 years.
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