Prince Andrew leads the royals’ mourning at Balmoral, to everyone’s surprise but his own
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Prince Andrew, the Queen’s disgraced second son, took a surprising central role in the family’s public mourning rituals in Balmoral, Scotland on Saturday, telling mourners: “One day we were permitted, now we begin the delivery. “
Andrew reportedly made the comment during an informal tour with other members of his family after attending a private service at local church Crathie Kirk.
Andrew, who has not been seen at a public event since the memorial service for his father Prince Philip earlier this year, walked back to the house in front of a small group of family members that included his daughter Eugenie and Princess Anne and their children. Zara and Peter as well as Prince Edward, his wife Sophie and their daughter Lady Louise.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, recently appointed State Counselor to King Charles III, meet with members of the public outside the gates of Balmoral Castle for a church service at Crathie Kirk on September 10, 2022 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
The group stopped at the gates of Balmoral House to admire the floral tributes left by the public. A crowd of well-wishers gathered there, many believed to be locals from neighboring villages who have an ardent loyalty to all family members.
Andrew waved to the crowd and put his hands together in thanks.
Andrew paid a multimillion-dollar sum earlier this year to settle a sex case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre and has rarely been seen in public since being stripped of his royal roles and HRH stye by the Queen.
He did not comment in front of television cameras. However, the telegraph and MailOnline both reported that Andrew, who was in a car accident news night Speaking about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a mourner asked how the family was doing: “One day we were allowed, now we’re starting the handover.”
The group then stopped at the castle gates to view the floral tributes left for the Queen. Princess Eugenie laid a bouquet, and both she and Zara Tindall wiped away tears as they read the messages.
Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York (L) stands with his daughters, Britain’s Princess Eugenie of York (C) and Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York as they look at the flowers, on September 10, 2022, two days later placed in front of Balmoral Castle in Ballater Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96.
ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Prince Andrew put on glasses and crouched down to read the news before getting up and hugging his daughter to comfort her.
Andrew’s public appearance on Saturday will spark speculation the family is testing the waters to give him a public role at his mother’s funeral arrangements.
In particular, he can still be invited to “guard” his mother’s coffin when it is laid out in London in the so-called “Vigil of the Princes”.
Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew, Duke of York look at flowers left outside the gates of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 10, 2022.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
https://www.thedailybeast.com/prince-andrew-to-everyones-surprise-except-his-own-leads-royals-in-mourning-at-balmoral?source=articles&via=rss Prince Andrew leads the royals’ mourning at Balmoral, to everyone’s surprise but his own
