Prince Andrew has once again been excluded from the Order of the Garter Day at Windsor Castle, marking the third consecutive year he has been barred from the prestigious event. The Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in the UK, sees its members, adorned in white plumed hats and dark blue velvet robes, process from the State Apartments of Berkshire Castle to St George’s Chapel, under the watchful eyes of gathered crowds.
King Charles confirmed his attendance last week, but his younger brother, Prince Andrew, will not be participating in the celebrations. Despite being a Garter Knight since 2006, Andrew has been sidelined due to his controversial past. A source revealed that the decision to exclude him is part of an ongoing effort to prevent him from having a public platform.
Andrew stepped back from his royal duties in 2019 following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a disastrous interview on Newsnight, where he attempted to explain their relationship. This year, the King, Queen, and other members of the Royal Family returned to the castle by carriage after the service, maintaining the tradition.
The Duchess of Gloucester was invested into the ancient order of chivalry this year, having been made a Royal Lady Companion in April. Additionally, Lord Lloyd-Webber, a prominent figure in the arts and culture world, was also announced as a new member in April. The Princess of Wales, who appeared at the Trooping the Colour event on Saturday, did not attend Garter Day or Royal Ascot this week. Kate Middleton has been recovering from a cancer diagnosis and has not performed any royal duties in 2024.
King Charles, who has also been diagnosed with cancer, initially stepped back from his public duties but has since resumed royal engagements. He recently traveled to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Prince Andrew’s absence from the Order of the Garter Day procession at Windsor Castle was confirmed by the Daily Express. The grand affair, which features members of the Order in elaborate velvet robes and plumed hats, is one of the most revered ceremonies in the royal calendar. This year’s event took place on Monday, June 17, just two days after Trooping the Colour, another event Andrew missed.
King Charles and Prince William are determined to limit Andrew’s public appearances. A source stated, “He won’t be there. There’s a precedent in place now, and they don’t want to give him a platform.” Although Andrew is expected to attend private events such as the investiture and lunch, his exclusion from the public aspect of the day is intended to avoid backlash.
In February, Andrew sparked controversy by appearing to lead members of the Royal Family to a memorial service at Windsor Castle. He was photographed smiling at the front of a group of royals, which included Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Zara and Mike Tindall. Queen Camilla arrived separately, while Prince William pulled out at the last minute due to the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis. King Charles was not performing public-facing duties at the time due to his own cancer diagnosis.
The King and Queen attended the ceremony, which saw Ladies and Knights of the Order of the Garter process from the State Apartments to St George’s Chapel. The installation of new Companions of the Order, including composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber, took place during the service. Lloyd-Webber, known for his hit musicals, attended a private investiture in the castle’s Garter Throne Room earlier in the day. The Duchess of Gloucester, Lord Kakkar, and Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach were also invested as Knight Companions.
Prince Andrew stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2019 due to his association with Epstein and allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has repeatedly denied. In January 2022, Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages were returned to the Queen, and he was stripped of his HRH status. A month later, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, making no admission of responsibility.
Despite his hopes of returning to royal duties and regaining his titles, sources suggest that Andrew’s comeback is unlikely. He has been out of the spotlight since 2019, following his failed attempts to deny knowing Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with him by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew lost most of his titles in February after settling Giuffre’s lawsuit for sexual abuse.
Prince Andrew’s exclusion from the Order of the Garter Day procession underscores the ongoing efforts to distance him from public royal events. His controversial past and the desire to avoid backlash have led to his continued absence from high-profile royal engagements.
