King Charles may offer Prince Andrew a quiet stay at Balmoral. Sources stress the gesture is one of private compassion, not a route back.
An invitation to the Scottish Highlands could be on its way to one of the most isolated members of the family. Those close to the palace insist it changes nothing about his standing.
King Charles reportedly believes a quiet Balmoral stay could benefit Prince Andrew’s mental health
King Charles may offer his younger brother what royal sources described to RadarOnline.com as an “olive branch.” Prince Andrew could receive an invitation to Balmoral once the monarch’s annual summer stay wraps up.
Andrew, 66, reportedly may have the option of visiting the Scottish estate after Charles, 77, leaves. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, already plan to attend the family’s traditional Balmoral gathering.
However, sources framed the gesture carefully. The King is mindful of his brother’s mental health. He believes the Highlands could offer respite from public attention. Andrew has stayed largely absent from official royal events since the fallout over his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
A palace aide told the outlet, “His Majesty is under no illusions about everything the Duke of York has been through in recent years, or the personal impact the ongoing controversy and isolation have had on him. The King’s view is that offering Andrew the chance to spend some quiet time at Balmoral, once the main family gathering has ended, is simply an act of compassion between brothers.”
Moreover, the aide drew a firm line. “It should not be interpreted as any form of rehabilitation or a signal that Andrew is returning to public life,” they said. The aide added that Charles knows how frozen out his brother feels.
Rather than Balmoral Castle itself, Andrew could stay at nearby Craigowan Lodge. Members of the royal family have long used the property. The lodge also carries personal history for him. He stayed there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, and their daughters after the late Prince Philip barred her from the main house.
Another source said the setup would let him enjoy the estate discreetly. “The invitation has been extended in good faith, but there is no guarantee he will take it up. At this stage, no decision has been made, and it remains entirely Andrew’s choice whether he feels comfortable accepting the King’s offer,” they explained.
Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019. The move followed his widely criticized BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. In 2022, he settled out of court with Virginia Giuffre, and the settlement carried no admission of liability.
