Prince Andrew is set for ‘central role’ in Queen’s funeral… ‘but has no hope of return to public life once she is laid to rest’: Disgraced duke will be granted temporary reprieve to mourn mother but is then expected to ‘disappear’

  • Prince Andrew is set for ‘central role’ in Queen’s funeral in temporary reprieve
  • The Duke of York is expected to join his family as they unite in their grief
  • Sources say it would be ‘out of the question’ for the 62-year-old to be excluded
  • Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Prince Andrew is set for ‘central role’ in the Queen’s funeral, ‘but has no hope of return to public life once she is laid to rest’, with the disgraced duke being granted a temporary reprieve to mourn his mother but is then expected to ‘disappear’.

The Duke of York, who has been in hot water over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is expected to join his family as they unite in their grief, with sources saying it would be ‘out of the question’ for him to be excluded. 

What form the truce takes at the Queen’s service on Monday, September 19, remains to be seen, with reports suggesting that Prince Andrew is set to play a key role despite controversies in the last few years.

It comes as the royal family attempts to put on a united front during the period of national mourning, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral on Thursday.

He is expected to walk behind his mother’s coffin today, in a procession from Edinburgh’s Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York views the flowers left by mourners outside Balmoral Castle on September 10

The Duke of York waits for his mother’s coffin to arrive at Holyroodhouse yesterday with his sister, the Princess Royal, her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, his brother, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex

Today the Duke of York is expected to walk behind his mother’s coffin during a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, at 2.35pm. Pictured, the coffin arrives in Edinburgh yesterday 

Prince Andrew joins Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as the Queen’s coffin is carried into the Palace of Holyroodhouse yesterday

For the last couple of years Prince Andrew has been keeping a relatively low profile after allegations about his links to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He has been rarely seen in public and was only scheduled to appear at one event during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – something he ended up missing due to getting Covid.

With his mother’s passing he has been allowed to return to the public eye to take part in the national mourning that will come over the next couple of weeks. 

However, this is not expected to be a permanent return, with the Telegraph reporting the new king is not likely to allow him to restart formal functions.

King Charles, along with his son, Prince William, were two of the key driving forces behind Andrew’s banishment from public life as they fought to contain the fallout from his relationship with Epstein and subsequent civil sex abuse case with one of the paedophile’s victims.

It reports they are likely to force him back out of the public eye once the mourning for Her Majesty is over.

On Saturday, while Charles was sworn in as King, Anne, Andrew, Edward and their children thanked well-wishers who had gathered outside the gates of Balmoral.   

He was seen reading tributes to his late mother and embracing his daughter Princess Eugenie.

And the 62-year-old’s joined other members of the family in Edinburgh yesterday for the arrival of the Queen’s coffin, with his apparent banishment from public life seemingly brought to a temporary halt.

The Duke of York was present at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital with his sister Princess Anne, and brother Prince Edward, as the cortege arrived.

Andrew is thought to have been incredibly close to his late mother, and is believed to have spent large amounts of time in recent months.

He has often been described as the Queen’s ‘favourite son’, and was seen walking arm-in-arm with his mother for the funeral of his late father, Prince Phillip.

He has rarely been seen in public since his association with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein became public knowledge, with other members of the family railing against his involvement in royal functions.

His appearance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was his first appearance after settling a civil sex abuse case with Virginia Giuffre, with no admission of liability.

He was not seen at the summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations due to covid.  

The Duke will play a key role in the period of national mourning following the death of his mother, something that has the blessing of the King. 

The Telegraph quotes a palace source as saying it would be ‘out of the question’ for him not to be involved when the royal family is trying to present a united front.

Princess Beatrice bends down with her father the Duke of York to look at tributes and flowers left outside Balmoral Castle in Ballater on September 10

But this temporary reprieve is not set to become permanent, with both King Charles and Prince William making it clear that Andrew will not play any formal role in their reigns.

‘Once it is all over, he will be expected to retreat back to a life lived well under the royal radar,’ the paper reported. 

Today the Duke of York is expected to walk behind his mother’s coffin during a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, at 2.35pm.

He will walk the 1,200 yard route on foot with the King and other senior members of the Royal Family.

This will include Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his sister, the Princess Royal. 

The Duke stands centre as he waves to members of the public after attending a service at Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral

It is expected that her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will also join on foot — while the Queen Consort and other members of the royal family will follow in cars. 

The procession will consist of a hearse, flanked by the Bearer Party of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the detachment of The King’s Body Guard in Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers.

Once laid in St Giles’ Cathedral, the Crown of Scotland will be placed on the Queen’s coffin. 

At 7.20pm, the King and other family members will mount a vigil by the coffin. 

Full details about the royal mourners have yet to be released but there is speculation the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the new Prince and Princess of Wales, who on Saturday put on a united front during an appearance at Windsor Castle, will be part of the group.

The Queen will then lie at rest for 24 hours, with thousands expected to file past. On Tuesday, her coffin will be flown to London with the Princess Royal.

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