Queen stripping Prince Andrew of his HRH title was her ‘final gesture of self-sacrifice’

The Queen’s decision to strip Prince Andrew of his HRH and military titles following his settlement of a lawsuit over alleged sexual abuse was her ‘final gesture of self-sacrifice’, a documentary has claimed.

The late monarch, who died in September 2022, made the decision the previous January after the Duke of York, 63, was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexual abuse relating to his associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

Episode five of Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday on ITVX, explores the late Queen’s loyalty to her second-eldest son, the ‘spare’ of the family, amid the allegations from Ms Giuffre, which he has always denied.

The episode, titled Heirs and Spares, notes how the late monarch stuck by father-of-two Andrew as public opinion turned against him following a car crash interview with BBC Newsnight – but after the civil lawsuit was settled in January 2022, she finally decided to remove Prince Andrew’s titles.

Showing footage of the late monarch with King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as the Waleses, on the Buckingham Palace balcony during her final appearance, the episode noted that the royals who were not present were the most telling insight into her state of mind.

The voiceover says: ‘Harry has left the country and builds a new life in America.

‘And now, the Queen has stripped Andrew of his HRH title. A final gesture of self-sacrifice.’ 

Elsewhere in the episode, Prince Harry’s troubled relationship with his family as the ‘spare’ is explored, from his time serving in Afghanistan to his decision to step down as a working royal in 2020.

Royal commentators note how the Duke of Sussex found solace through his role in the armed forces, where he ‘earnt’ his place rather than being born into it – but add that Prince William, as the heir, was not sent to Afghanistan because it was considered too great a risk.

The episode notes that the Queen’s final Buckingham Palace balcony appearance was telling because of the members of the family who were not there, including Prince Harry and Prince Andrew

Inside the House of Windsor episode 5, which airs on Thursday evening on ITVX, plays footage from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, including the sermon delivered by Rev Michael Curry

The programme delved into his relationship with Meghan, making note of how the wedding ceremony of the couple in May 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor had ‘intended to reshape what a royal wedding can be’.

As footage is played of the sermon at the church, delivered by Bishop Michael Curry from Chicago, the voiceover notes that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Queen ‘appeared moved’ by his message of love.

The voiceover says: ‘When Harry and Meghan marry, they throw a different kind of celebration. It’s intended to reshape what a royal wedding can be.

‘The main event of the service is a black preacher from Chicago, with a reputation not only as an extraordinary orator, but also as a humanitarian.’

The documentary tells how Rev Curry’s sermon, which spoke of God and love being intertwined, ‘appeared to move’ Harry and Meghan and the late Queen.

It also notes that, in contrast, other members of the royal family ‘appeared amused’. The clip then cuts to footage of Kate Middleton and Camilla looking at each other during the sermon.

Another clip is played of Charles sat with his head down while Prince William, sitting next to him, appears to stifle a laugh.

The documentary notes that, after Meghan married into the royal family, Princes William and Harry decided to halt many of their joint charity ventures and began to take separate paths with their philanthropic work.

‘It’s as though the faultlines in society are spreading and causing cracks within the royal family,’ the voiceover claims.

The voiceover notes how the royal couple’s wedding ‘intended to reshape what a royal wedding could be’ by inviting Rev Curry to speak

As footage from the sermon is played in the episode, the voiceover notes that some members of the royal family, including the Queen, ‘appeared moved’ by Rev Curry’s message 

The episode notes that, in contrast to the Queen’s reaction to the sermon, some members of the royal family ‘appeared amused’ 

As the programme follows events within the royal family in chronological order until Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step down as working royals and move to the US in 2020, it notes the difficult decisions the late Queen had to make about her grandson’s position in the royal family in the last years of her life.

At the same time, the late monarch also had to deal with accusations of sexual abuse levelled at her son Prince Andrew, another spare, from Virginia Giuffre.

The episode made note of how Prince Andrew’s mother battled with her loyalty to her son versus her desire to keep the British monarchy afloat.

It noted how she steered the royal family through crises including Ms Giuffre’s civil lawsuit against the Duke of York, which saw him stripped of his royal titles as he settled the case out of court.

Elsewhere the episode noted how the late monarch and other royals coped with accusations from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, that members of the family had asked about how dark Prince Archie’s skin would be when he was born.

The claim was made by Meghan and Harry during their tell-all interview amid the Covid pandemic, however they never revealed who had made the alleged comments.

In response, Buckingham Palace issued a response on behalf of all family members including the Queen, which read: ‘The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

‘The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

‘Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.’