Prince Andrew ‘believes his HRH status should be RESTORED’

Disgraced Prince Andrew is pushing for a return to royal duties and wants his ceremonial role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards reinstated, it was claimed last night.

The Duke of York is said to have been lobbying the Queen for his former status to be restored and to be allowed back to official events alongside other royals.

Andrew, 62, was stripped of his official duties at the start of this year as he prepared to pay a multi-million-pound settlement to Virginia Giuffre to keep her allegations of sexual abuse, which he denies, out of court.

Today, the duke will appear in public alongside senior royals at the annual Order of the Garter ceremony, wearing full regalia as part of the procession at Windsor Castle.

He will appear because he is a member of the Order, the country’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry and a personal honour given at the bequest of the Queen.

It will be the closest he has been to large crowds of members of the public in recent years and has sparked fears he could even be booed.

It was reported last night that the duke believes he should also be included in other royal and state events.

A source told the Daily Telegraph: ‘The colonelcy of the Grenadier Guards was his most coveted title and he wants it back. Having remained a Counsellor of State, he also believes he should be included at royal and state events.

‘Most importantly for him is his status as an HRH and ‘Prince of the Blood’ and he feels that should be reinstated and his position recognised and respected.’

Buckingham Palace and Andrew’s spokesman last night declined to comment on the claims. But one royal insider suggested that, whether he had asked or not, there should be no expectation of being welcomed back.

The insider said the duke could ‘lobby all he wanted, if indeed he has, but whether he would ever get anything back is an entirely different matter’.

An aide said the statement from January in which he was stripped of his roles ‘with the Queen’s approval and agreement’, still ‘speaks for itself’.

Prince Charles is understood to be prominent among those who feel he must be kept at arm’s length to avoid damaging the entire institution of the British monarchy.

Andrew became Colonel of the Grenadier Guards five years ago after his father stepped back from public life – and is said to have particularly enjoyed the role. 

It is claimed he wanted to wear the formal uniform of the rank at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year, prompting a decision that all royal men would wear civilian morning coats to avoid any embarrassment.

But he has been seen riding at Windsor wearing a waterproof Grenadier Guards jacket complete with their Latin motto ‘honi soit qui mal y pense’ – ‘shame upon he who thinks evil of it’.

The Palace has this year distanced itself from commenting on behalf of Andrew. But when asked this weekend about his appearance at the Garter Day service, a source said the ‘Andrew problem’ needs fixing. 

A senior source told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Clearly at some point soon, thought will have to be given as to how to support the duke as, [away] from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction.’

There was the suggestion that one option could see the duke spending more time in Scotland but a full-time move there is thought to be unlikely.

It was previously reported that The Queen has been holding secret talks with the Duke of York and senior members of the Royal Family about how they can help Prince Andrew rebuild his life ‘away from the public gaze’. 

The Queen has held family meetings at Windsor Castle to establish what role the Duke could fulfil that would be acceptable to the public.

‘Clearly at some point soon, thought will have to be given as to how to support the Duke as, away from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction,’ said the senior Palace source.

While it is understood that Andrew is determined to keep his Royal Lodge estate, one option could be for him to rebuild his life in Scotland.

The Palace source added: ‘There is, of course, a real awareness and sensitivity to public feelings. There is also recognition that the task of starting to support him as he begins to rebuild his life will be the first step on a long road and one that should not be played out every day in the glare of the public spotlight.’

It comes as William and Kate are set to swap the hustle and bustle of London to take up residence in leafy Berkshire, according to reports.

It is claimed that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to move to a house on the Queen’s Windsor estate this summer – leaving behind Kensington Palace as their main residence.

According to The Sunday Times, the couple are set to take their son Prince George, 8, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 7, out of their current prep school in Battersea at the end of the school year.

George and Charlotte will then join their younger brother, Prince Louis, 4, at a new school in Berkshire in September, the paper reports.

William is set to turn 40 this week. The royal is reported to have joked privately that he is finding it ‘so daunting’. 

The move will see William and Kate leave Kensington Palace, which has been their main residence since 2017.

The couple moved their from their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, where they had previously spent much of their time.

However, according to The Sunday Times, the pair will retain their property at Kensington Palace as their London home despite moving to Berkshire. Their press team will remain in west London.

The couple will also retain Anmer Hall, which the paper reports they will continue to use ‘regularly’. 

One friend reportedly told the paper that they plan to move there on a more permanent basis after their children are through ‘the school years’. 

‘They absolutely love it up there, it’s their happy place,’ the friend is reported to have said.

The move to Windsor means the Cambridges will be near to the home of the Duchess’s parents, the Middletons, who live 45-minutes away by car in the village of Bucklebury.

It has long been reported that the couple could one day move into Windsor Castle. The Queen has spent much of her time at the Berkshire castle following the death of her beloved Prince Phillip.

However it is understood Prince Charles does not plan to spend as much time there when he becomes king.

It has previously been reported that the Prince of Wales plans to spend much of his time at Buckingham Palace during his reign.

Prince William and Kate were centre stage at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations last weekend, appearing on the royal balcony twice and during Saturday night’s Party at the Palace celebrations.

They were also joined by Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they brought the Platinum Jubilee celebrations to Wales while visiting concert rehearsals at Cardiff Castle. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with George, eight, and Charlotte, seven, met performers and crew involved in a special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert at the castl.

William and Kate seemed to encourage their shy-looking children to shake hands and introduce themselves to dignitaries as they arrived in the Welsh capital, though Charlotte was soon beaming. 

It was the young royals’ first official visit to Wales and one of the first times they have greeted and interacted with members of the public. 

Missing was Prince Louis who stole the show when he appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with his family and the Queen after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

William and Kate ‘will move family to Windsor in summer and Charles will give them the castle’ after Jubilee talks that also saw Queen plot future for the monarchy involving Andrew ‘sent to Scotland’

• William and Kate are planning to move to a house on Windsor Estate, according to report in the Sunday Times
• They are planning to move their children into a new school, but will retain their property at Kensington Palace
• It comes as it was today revealed Queen has been holding talks with Prince Andrew about rebuilding his life
• However one option on the table said to involve him leaving Windsor for Scotland to get out of the public eye
• Meanwhile, reports in The Sun suggest Harry and Meghan met Queen for 15 minutes during Jubilee weekend
• According to the paper, they introduced Lilibet to the Queen but palace aides kept the occasion ‘formal’ 

ByJames Robinson for MailOnlineand Kate Mansey For The Mail On Sunday

Big changes could be afoot for the House of Windsor this summer, with William and Kate reportedly set on a move to Windsor, while Prince Andrew could swap Berkshire for Scotland as part of a bid to rebuild his life.

Following family talks around the Queen’s recent Jubilee weekend, plans are now being put in place that could see significant changes to the lives of the royals later this year.

Possibly the biggest change will be for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are reportedly set to uproot their family from Kensington, west London, to Berkshire. 

It is claimed the couple are set to move to a house on the Queen’s Windsor estate  – leaving behind Kensington Palace as their main residence.

Meanwhile, The Queen is said to have been holding secret talks with the Duke of York and senior members of the Royal Family about how they can help Prince Andrew rebuild his life ‘away from the public gaze’.

With his recent US legal battle now over, the Queen has held family meetings at Windsor Castle to establish what role the Duke could fulfil that would be acceptable to the public.

While it is understood that Andrew – seen out horse-riding at Windsor yesterday – is determined to keep his Royal Lodge estate in Windsor, one option could be for him to rebuild his life in Scotland. 

While William, Kate and Andrew could all see big changes this summer, it appears to be little change for US-based Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

It is claimed the couple only secured a 15-minute meeting with the Queen over the four-day Jubilee celebrations last weekend, with senior royal aides reportedly describing the tone as ‘formal’.

According to The Sunday Times, as part of the Berkshire move, William and Kate will take their son Prince George, 8, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 7, out of their current prep school in Battersea at the end of the school year.

George and Charlotte will then join their younger brother, Prince Louis, 4, at a new school in Berkshire in September, the paper reports.

The move will see William and Kate leave Kensington Palace, which has been their main residence since 2017.

The couple moved their from their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, where they had previously spent much of their time.

However, according to the paper, the pair will retain their property at Kensington Palace as their London home despite moving to Berkshire. Their press team will remain in west London.

The couple will also retain Anmer Hall, which the paper reports they will continue to use ‘regularly’. 

One friend reportedly told the paper that they plan to move there on a more permanent basis after their children are through ‘the school years’. 

‘They absolutely love it up there, it’s their happy place,’ the friend is reported to have said.

The move to Windsor will also see the Cambridges move closer to the home of the Duchess’s parents, the Middletons, who live 45-minutes away by car in the village of Bucklebury.

It has long been reported that the couple could one day move into Windsor Castle. The Queen has spent much of her time at the Berkshire castle following the death of her beloved Prince Phillip.

However it is understood Prince Charles does not plan to spend as much time there when he becomes king. It has previously been reported that the Prince of Wales plans to spend much of his time at Buckingham Palace during his reign.

The move comes as William is set to turn 40 this week. The royal is reported to have joked privately that he is finding it ‘so daunting’.

But he also reportedly hopes the move to Berkshire will give his family more freedom to roam when compared to the ‘confined’ London life.

It comes as the Daily Mail yesterday revealed how The Queen has been holding secret talks with the Duke of York and senior members of the Royal Family about how they can help Prince Andrew rebuild his life ‘away from the public gaze’.

The Duke will tomorrow attend the annual Order of the Garter ceremony and a senior Palace source confirmed meetings are underway behind the scenes to find a new role for him away from the spotlight.

The Queen’s second son was stripped of his military titles and HRH status in January as he prepared to face sexual abuse allegations, which he has always vehemently denied, in a civil lawsuit.

He agreed to pay a sum reportedly up to £12 million to settle the case.

With the legal battle now over, the Queen has held family meetings at Windsor Castle to establish what role the Duke could fulfil that would be acceptable to the public.

‘Clearly at some point soon, thought will have to be given as to how to support the Duke as, away from the public gaze, he seeks slowly to rebuild his life in a different direction,’ said the senior Palace source.

While it is understood that Andrew – seen out horse-riding at Windsor yesterday – is determined to keep his Royal Lodge estate, one option could be for him to rebuild his life in Scotland.

The Palace source added: ‘There is, of course, a real awareness and sensitivity to public feelings. There is also recognition that the task of starting to support him as he begins to rebuild his life will be the first step on a long road and one that should not be played out every day in the glare of the public spotlight.’

The Duke – who was absent from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last weekend after contracting Covid – remains a member of the historic Order of the Garter and will attend its annual ceremony at Windsor.

The Mail on Sunday understands that concerns remain within the Palace that any return to public life would be badly received and that the Queen will not reverse her decision to ban Andrew from official duties.

At the time, a statement said: ‘With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.’

News of the discussions on Andrew’s future comes as he was branded an ‘absolute fool’ for becoming embroiled in a fresh row over money.

French socialite Isabelle de Rouvre – who at one time was owed millions of pounds by Andrew after selling her ski chalet in the Swiss resort of Verbier to him – made the comment amid new claims that he is involved in a £1.6 million debt battle connected to the property. Andrew is believed to dispute the amount of the debt.

It comes as reports today suggested Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met the Queen for only 15 minutes over the Platinum Jubilee.

During the meeting, the couple, who are now based in Montecito, California, introduced their one-year-old daughter Lilibet, who is named after The Queen, for the first time.

However, according to The Sun on Sunday, the meeting, which took place on Thursday as the Jubilee celebrations kicked-off, was kept ‘formal’ by Buckingham Palace aides.  

A source reportedly told the paper: ‘It was a quick in and out job. It was all quite formal.’ Buckingham Palace reportedly declined to comment when contacted by The Sun.

It comes as Prince Harry was spotted striking a pose this weekend as he enjoyed a spot of polo under the Californian sun, almost a week after arriving back from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.

The Duke of Sussex, 37, played for his friend Nacho Figueras’ team Los Padres at the Cancha de Estrella Polo Club in Santa Barbara on Friday, in what was the first time he was seen out and about since returning to Los Angeles on June 5. 

After working up a sweat, the red-faced royal was pictured taking a break as he placed his hands behind his head and sunk into his right hip. 

He donned a green top, white trousers and black riding boots and knee pads as he basked in the typical LA heat, before being seen mounting his brown horse and putting on his helmet and protective goggles for another round of play. 

It comes after royal experts this week claimed that Harry ‘must have gone home feeling very depressed for what he has given up’, after he and his wife Meghan Markle decided not to be more visible in the Jubilee celebrations because ‘they did not have centre stage seats’. 

The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex, 40, missed both the Platinum Jubilee Party and Pageant – as well as the Epsom Derby during the four-day festivities. 

Meghan was not present for the game on Friday, which Harry’s team lost 12-8 to Dundee II. 

The couple made only one public appearance over the Jubilee weekend, despite flying in from the US with their two children – Archie and Lilibet.

They did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour, and were also seemingly relegated to the second row during the Thanksgiving service.

Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl told True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat that the couple weren’t at other celebrations because ‘they did not have centre stage seats’.   

Meanwhile, historian Hugo Vickers added: ‘Harry has given up being Captain of the Royal Marines, who were out in force. 

‘I think he must have gone home feeling very depressed for what he has given up.’

Katie said: ‘I honestly think it’s [because]… they knew that they wouldn’t be in that front row. 

‘And why did they leave the Royal Family? They left because they weren’t in the front row. I believe that’s why they weren’t at the other celebrations as they did not have centre stage seats.’