Prince Andrew’s family attended a funeral without him yesterday as the Royal Family braced themselves for Prince Charles to hold talks with his brother.
Sarah, Duchess of York and her daughters Princess Beatrice and Eugenie were at the service at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge in London for the late financier Tim Hoare.
Prince Charles is expected to hold talks with his younger brother in London this week after his return to Britain this morning following his tour of the South Pacific.
Charles and Andrew will have a showdown at Clarence House after the Duke of York’s disastrous interview about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince William, who was holding an investiture ceremony, and the Queen’s third son Prince Andrew were also photographed arriving at Buckingham Palace this morning.
Sarah, Duchess of York and Eugenie (far right) at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge yesterday
Princess Beatrice (left) also arrives at church with her mother Sarah and sister Eugenie (right)
The Duchess of York and Eugenie remember the late financier Tim Hoare in London yesterday
Andrew will ‘stand back’ from his charity patronages in a sign of his humiliation over the Epstein scandal following the BBC Newsnight programme on November 16.
Aides to the Duke said he would step aside temporarily, but sources suggested Charles and nephew Prince William would oppose any future return to royal duties.
Charles has allegedly been angered by how the row has overshadowed his visit to the South Pacific with Camilla which saw him highlight climate change issues.
Meanwhile, Charles and Andrew’s mother the Queen opened the Royal Philatelic Society’s new building today as the organisation celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Sarah is welcomed outside the church while arriving with her daughter Princess Eugenie
Prince Andrew’s family attended the funeral at St Paul’s, Knightsbridge without him yesterday
Sarah and Eugenie are pictured outside the church following the funeral service yesterday
Its new home in the City of London welcomes stamp collectors from across the globe eager to see the society’s extensive collection.
During her visit, the Queen – its patron – met architects, administration staff and supporters of the society and be shown a display of philatelic artefacts.
Plans for a glittering reception at Buckingham Palace to mark Andrew’s 60th birthday in February have been mothballed following public revulsion.
Representatives from his charities, business sponsors and military affiliations would have been invited to the party, but many have distanced themselves from him.
Prince William arrives at Buckingham Palace today amid the ongoing Andrew controversy
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace this morning to visit the Royal Philatelic Society
The Queen is shown documents today as she visits the Royal Philatelic Society in London
During the BBC interview with Emily Maitlis, Andrew denied claims he had sex with a 17-year-old girl, Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre.
But he admitted he had ‘let the side down’ when he visited Epstein’s home in New York – two years after the financier’s conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
The decision to go ahead with the interview – which BBC producers spent more than a year working on getting – was initially said to have been sanctioned by the Queen.
But a royal source told the Sunday Times she had not given her approval and Andrew had not told her anything about what he planned to say.
Prince Edward arrives at Buckingham Palace today as the Andrew controversy continues
The Queen and Prince Andrew during Trooping The Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 8
Andrew, Charles and Camilla leave St Paul’s Cathedral in London together in June 2012
The Queen was said to be ‘deeply frustrated’ that the scandal had overshadowed the rest of the Royal Family’s work although she remained ‘privately supportive’ of him.
She effectively sacked him from royal duties last week after her heir Charles and second in line to the throne, William, asked her to intervene.
Royal commentator Ingrid Seward told OK! magazine: ‘Her majesty will have had a stiff martini – she always does that in times of crisis.
‘It’s what her generation do instead of turning to counselling or pills. I would think she’s still feeling very angry considering the quick retribution, and very let down.’
Charles waves and leaves Honiara in the Solomon Islands at the end of his royal tour yesterday
Charles meets traditional dancers from the island of Guadalcanal at a community event focused on oceans at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara in the Solomon Islands yesterday
The Duke of York speaks to BBC Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis in an interview on November 16
A source told the Sunday Times William had spoken to the Queen and Charles about Andrew’s future and believed his removal from public life was ‘the right thing to do’.
They said: ‘William is becoming more and more involved in decisions about the institution [the monarchy] and he’s not a huge fan of his uncle Andrew.’
Andrew agreed to withdraw from public duty but initially wanted to remain a figurehead for some 200 charities and other affiliations.
But he was forced to back down after many made it clear they no longer wanted his backing.
At least 23 organisations have either dropped him or accepted his resignation, including the English National Ballet, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Outward Bound Trust.
Several sponsors have also dropped their backing for his Pitch@Palace business initiative and the project has been told to find offices outside of Buckingham Palace.
Today, his name was removed as patron of the £36,000-a-year Royal Hospital School near Ipswich in Suffolk, which has strong Royal and naval connections.
He was listed as an ‘Official Visitor’ to the 750-pupil school – a largely ceremonial role representing the Queen – but his name has now been removed from its website.
A school spokesman said: ‘It has been confirmed by the palace that the Duke of York is withdrawing from public duties and therefore he is not expected to conduct any further visits in his capacity as Official Visitor to the Royal Hospital School.’
There were calls for the duke’s business dealings and private finances to be scrutinised by the public finance committee, Parliament’s financial watchdog.
Andrew still remains a figurehead for several military organisations, including as honorary Colonel for the Grenadier Guards.
Sources said some regiments felt ‘awkward’ about him featuring on their Christmas cards, but his military affiliations are expected to remain in place for now – although the Palace has said he would not take part in any events.