Disagreement has reportedly emerged behind palace walls, with Princess Anne said to be at odds with King Charles over his handling of Prince Andrew’s situation. According to a source quoted by the Daily Mail, Anne has been openly critical of what she views as the king’s overly harsh treatment of their younger brother.
The insider claims Anne has raised her concerns not only with King Charles but also with Prince William. Prince Edward is said to share some of her reservations, though to a lesser extent. These differing views have reportedly led to several heated exchanges within the family.
Some relatives are said to believe the king has gone too far in stripping Andrew of his remaining royal titles and honours, a move that was finalised last October. Andrew was also instructed to vacate Royal Lodge, a process that concluded this week when he officially left the Windsor property.
A difficult decision for the King
The decision followed years of public controversy surrounding Andrew’s association with the late Jeffrey Epstein and increasing pressure for the monarchy to take decisive action. Despite this, sources suggest the move was deeply uncomfortable for King Charles.
According to the insider, the king continues to believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty, making the situation emotionally complex for him. At the same time, Prince William and Queen Camilla are reported to have supported a tougher approach, prioritising the reputation and stability of the monarchy.
This divide in opinion is said to have caused ongoing strain within the family, with one source describing the situation as a constant source of tension behind the scenes.
Renewed scrutiny linked to Epstein files
The reported family rift comes as Andrew faces renewed attention following the release of millions of documents connected to the US Department of Justice investigation into Epstein. Among the materials are photographs that appear to show Andrew kneeling beside an unidentified woman lying on the ground.
The images show Andrew touching the woman’s stomach while she remains fully clothed, and another photo shows him looking toward the camera. No information has been provided about when or where the images were taken, and their context remains unclear.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Being named or appearing in the Epstein files does not, by itself, indicate guilt. His representatives have been contacted for comment.
For years, Andrew has faced allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with him when she was 17. Andrew has repeatedly and strongly denied these claims. Giuffre’s memoir, published last October, brought renewed public focus to the allegations.
While Princess Anne has reportedly expressed her concerns privately, Prince Edward addressed the wider issue publicly this week at the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Speaking to CNN, he urged attention to remain on the victims of Epstein’s crimes rather than royal controversy, adding that discussions about education and the future were of greater importance.
