Princess Anne ‘Defies’ King Charles Amid Prince Andrew’s Controversial Arrest
Princess Anne, long recognized for her stoic and no-nonsense approach to royal affairs, has reportedly taken a “wildly unpredictable” step following the Andrew-Epstein scandal.
In a surprising move, while other royal family members have distanced themselves from the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Anne is said to have been privately reaching out to her middle brother, reportedly with the backing of her son-in-law, Mike Tindall.
The Princess Royal maintained her usual composure earlier this week as the royal family gathered at Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day service, paying no attention to anti-monarchy protesters outside.
Anne, King Charles’s sister, believes that private family matters should stay out of the public eye—a principle long upheld by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
However, defending Andrew has grown increasingly difficult for the royals, especially after humiliating photos and emails surfaced in the Epstein files. According to royal expert Richard Kay, Anne admitted that it was now becoming “harder” for the family to support him.
King Charles has made it clear that Andrew is officially ousted from the royal family, stripped of his titles and honours, with other members advised to keep their distance—reflecting the strong public sentiment in Britain against the former prince.
However, Princess Anne’s continued contact with Andrew appears to be a subtle act of defiance.
“Shaken by his arrest, I understand she has continued to stay in touch with him,” said royal expert Richard Kay. “Despite her trademark gruff, just-get-on-with-it demeanor inherited from Prince Philip, Anne has been genuinely concerned about Andrew’s mental wellbeing as his world unraveled.”
Kay added, “Interestingly, this contact has been supported by her son-in-law, former rugby star Mike Tindall, who arguably has more real-world experience than any other royal.”
Insiders emphasize that the Princess Royal is fully aware of the reputational risks to the monarchy if ties with Andrew are maintained. Yet, she continues to support King Charles’s decisions and remains steadfastly devoted to the monarch.
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