When the pressure mounted around ex-Prince Andrew, King Charles III did not slam the door shut. He hesitated. That’s the version of events emerging from senior palace insiders, who say the monarch struggled to separate family loyalty from institutional duty as scrutiny intensified around his younger brother.
King Charles ‘dithered’ before cutting brother ex-Prince Andrew off, per source
“Charles dithered,” one senior palace source claimed. “He stalled, he made excuses, and he worried far more about Andrew’s feelings than the monarchy’s image.” According to those familiar with internal discussions, the King initially was taking a firm stance, but that resolve softened quickly. Sources say the King first acted strongly, but then quietly changed his approach within a few weeks and looked for a softer solution. “He didn’t want to upset Andrew,” one source said. “That was the priority.”
Despite public assumptions that other senior royals may have pushed for swifter consequences, insiders suggest there was little appetite for confrontation inside palace walls. “Nobody wanted to be the bad guy,” one courtier explained. Sources say that this hesitation made the situation last longer and made it harder for the monarchy to protect its public image.
“William said, ‘This is existential. The monarchy is at stake,’” a senior insider recounted. “That was the moment it ended.” Insiders describe the Prince of Wales as focused on long-term survival rather than short-term discomfort. “Charles feels. William calculates,” one source said. “In this case, calculation saved the Crown for the moment.”
While King Charles ultimately moved forward with stripping Andrew of his military titles and patronages and initiating steps to remove his style and honors, insiders insist the decision came after internal pressure. “It’s revisionist history,” one royal watcher said. Buckingham Palace recently confirmed that the King would support any review conducted by Thames Valley Police into claims that Andrew shared confidential information while serving as a trade envoy.
