The man who once commanded deference from those around him may soon find the tables turned — royal commentators say a ‘reeling’ Prince Andrew faces the humiliating prospect of bowing to his own daughters after Beatrice and Eugenie were allowed to keep their royal titles.
For a figure described by those who know him as preoccupied with rank, ceremony and the proper order of things, the psychological blow is expected to cut deep — and royal biographers say the scenario is not just possible but likely.
How far Andrew has fallen
His titles and military honours were among the first casualties of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — stripped away after his association with the convicted paedophile became untenable, and back in the headlines again once the Epstein files were released.
Since then the walls have closed in steadily around the 66-year-old. King Charles moved him out of Royal Lodge, and a subsequent arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office — which Andrew strenuously denies — added a further layer of disgrace.
The bowing question
Royal author Andrew Lownie laid out why the title situation will rankle on his Substack, The Lownie Report.
“Andrew of course stands on ceremony, titles and all these things are very, very important to him, and the pecking order and people bowing and curtseying,” he said.
“I think this is what is going to upset him now, his own daughters; he will have to bow to them.”
The daughters in question — Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36 — have retained their princess titles despite their father’s fall, creating a protocol situation that royal experts say is without modern precedent, reports Sky News.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman, appearing on the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential podcast, backed that assessment and agreed the scenario was likely — with one condition attached.
“He will have to bow to everybody – that’s assuming he’s in the room with the rest of the family,” Hardman said.
Asked whether Andrew would take that well, his answer was short: “No, I don’t.”
The HRH that won’t go away
The private picture tells a different story. Crates marked HRH were seen being unloaded at Marsh Farm, the Sandringham property King Charles has allocated to his brother. Andrew is currently at Wood Farm next door, waiting for work on Marsh Farm to finish.
Those who will serve the father-of-two at Marsh Farm have been given clear instructions on how to refer to their employer.
“He’s lost his HRH, prince and duke titles and so staff, who didn’t know how to correctly address him, have been instructed that he is still to be called ‘Sir’,” a source told The Sun.
“He will be given his own chef and valet at Marsh Farm which is a climbdown to the luxury he was previously afforded.”
The bill for this reduced but still comfortable existence is being picked up personally by the King himself, who has taken on responsibility for his brother’s finances to prevent the disgraced father-of-two becoming dependent on outside support.