Kate Middleton, Prince William, and King Charles were heckled at a royal outing on Monday, March 9. This came after the arrest of Prince Andrew last month.
Kate And William Heckled
On Monday, the royals attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London. There, they found themselves being met by protesters with the anti-monarchy group Republic.
“What did you know?” spelled out a row of bright yellow posters that the protesters held. This was seemingly a reference to Andrew’s alleged ties to the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Other protesters also held signs referencing Andrew. Some of the signs had anti-monarchy messages written on them as well.
The Commonwealth Day service was the largest gathering for the royals since Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19. Indeed, he was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
This marked the first time a royal was arrested since 1649, when King Charles I was beheaded for high treason. The royals have been in full panic mode ever since.
“If it comes out that people knew stuff — whether it be members of the family or police or staffers — then heads must roll,” Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, told People Magazine.
A palace insider added, “Other events have rocked the monarchy, but something from within — where someone is being arrested — is very different. This is much more serious.”
Andrew’s Arrest
Andrew was arrested at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. The place is particularly special to the royal family.
“This is the place where the Queen spent her last birthday in April 2022,” Jobson explained. “Four years later, it’s been raided by the police. It beggars belief.”
Andrew was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation. Afterwards, he was caught on camera slumped in the back of an SUV as he left the police station.
“It is the ultimate humiliation,” said another palace insider.
King Charles, who is Andrew’s older brother, released a brief statement about his arrest.
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” said Charles, 77. “Let me state clearly: The law must take its course.”
Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth, said that the wording of this statement was deliberate.
“It was a way of distancing himself,” she said.
Andrew is now in legal limbo as the investigation continues. He could remain in this limbo for weeks or even months as police pour over the Epstein files. It’s been alleged that in the files, it was shown that Andrew shared confidential information with Epstein during his time working as the U.K.’s trade envoy.
“When these things went on, he was Prince Andrew, Duke of York — right at the heart of the royal family,” Jobson concluded. “The problem will be who knew what, when they knew it and why nothing was done.”
This has clearly turned into a very messy situation for the entire royal family. Only time will tell how it turns out for all of them.