Prince Andrew's inclusion at major royal event 'an act of defiance knowing all too well how uncomfortable it made Prince William'

OPINION – – The sight of Prince Andrew arriving to one of the royal family's most high-profile events in weeks was an act of defiance he's become known for.

The 65-year-old disgraced Duke of York had not announced his intention to join the royals at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent beforehand but he had every right to be there, which might come as a shock to most people.

Even if the optics of standing side by side King Charles – much to the disdain of his nephew Prince William – didn't look good.

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Prince Andrew was among the mourners who gathered at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon (early morning Wednesday Australia time) to farewell the late duchess following her death at 92 on September 4.

The occasion was significant for being the first Catholic funeral service held for a member of the British family in modern British history.

It was also the first time some of the royals had been seen together since the King's coronation in May, 2023.

The royal family was there to say goodbye to Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, one of the most loved members of the House of Windsor.

She also beloved by the public and known for being one of the most hands-on and sympathetic members of the royal family, affectionately called 'Caring Kate'.

Her down-to-earth nature was one of her most endearing traits, something best exemplified by her 13 years working undercover as a music teacher at a state school where she was known simply as "Mrs Kent".

The duchess was even praised by Pope Leo who, in a message sent to King Charles ahead of the service, described Katharine as having a "legacy of Christian goodness, seen in her many years of dedication to official duties, patronage of charities, and devoted care for vulnerable people".

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The duchess had converted to converted to Catholicism inside Westminster Cathedral in 1994, becoming the first British royal to do so in more than 300 years, something she described as "a long-pondered personal decision".

The stillborn birth of her son, Patrick, and the loss of another unborn child, contributed to her decision to leave the Anglican church for Catholicism.

All eyes were on the royals as they arrived to say their final goodbyes.

Her widower the Duke of Kent, aged 89, was the picture of stoicism as he arrived with the aid of a walking cane, later supported by the couple's daughter Lady Helen Taylor.

The Duke and Duchess of Duke of Kent had three children: George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Taylor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The couple had 10 grandchildren.

Three of her grandchildren – Lady Marina Charlotte-Windsor, Eloise Taylor and Albert Windsor – read the prayers of the faithful.

Among the wider family at the cathedral included Lord Frederik Windsor and his wife Sophie Winkleman, Lady Gabriella Windsor whose husband Thomas Kingston died in February last year, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Chatto family.

King Charles, as head of the family, was there minus his wife Queen Camilla who pulled out at the last minute, suffering from acute sinusitis.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were there, as was Princess Anne and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

But it was the inclusion of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, that may have come as a surprise to onlookers.

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It was a rare public appearance for the Duke of York after stepping down from official duties in 2019 and the first time he had been seen in central London since the coronation.

The reason for his attendance at the funeral is simple: it was a family occasion and not an official, public event.

He and the duchess arrived before the King and senior royals and were seated at the end of a pew.

Following the 90-minute service, the royals gathered en masse outside the cathedral in what was the longest look the public has had of them in some time.

Prince Andrew was seen smiling and, more significantly, standing side by side with his brother, the King.

While Prince Andrew has been included in private family occasions since being banned from public duties six years ago, and stripped of his military affiliations and patronages, he has not stood so close to the King.

The fact that the monarch allowed himself to be photographed so close to his brother is likely to raise eyebrows.

Prince Andrew has been a fixture at family events in recent years: Easter at Windsor Castle, the coronation and Christmas at Sandringham in 2023.

But the last time Andrew was photographed standing so close to the King was at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022. Even then, most of the time they were separated by Princess Anne who stood in between.

In fact, it was well before the duke stepped back from public life that Charles allowed himself to be photographed so close to his brother.

The last time they were seen walking together was at Sandringham in December 2017.

Prince William, whose dislike for his uncle is well known due to the shadow the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has cast over the monarchy, was clearly not impressed by Andrew's presence at the Duchess of Kent's funeral.

The look on his face said it all.

The Prince of Wales did his best to avoid interacting with the duke but was seen outside, after the service, begrudgingly next to Andrew who appeared to be trying to talk to William.

The Princess of Wales was seen smiling and speaking with the Duchess of Edinburgh, but also sticking close to her husband.

The Duchess of York was among the last to leave the steps of the cathedral after talking to many of the family members.

Prince Andrew has kept a low profile since being forced to retire from public life following his disastrous BBC interview in which he failed to express remorse for Epstein's victims, while denying he had ever met his own accuser Virginia Giuffre.

The Duke of York has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing in the case.

His appearance in London on Tuesday was also the first major event he has been to since Giuffre's death by suicide in April.

Just days ago, a former lawyer for Giuffre called for prosecutors in Britain and the United States to investigate Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein.

David Boies, who represented the late Giuffre in her New York lawsuit against Andrew, made the comments after claims that emails showing the extent of the relationship between Andrew and the convicted paedophile could be released by the US Congress.

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Giuffre claimed that she was trafficked by Epstein to the duke, alleging that he sexually abused her three times when she was 17.

The duke reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in February 2022 without any admission of liability.

Prince Andrew now lives a quiet life away from the cameras at the Royal Lodge at Windsor but cannot escape the stain of Epstein.

He was the subject of scandalous headlines throughout July and August due to a book by Andrew Lownie which was described by one reviewer as a "400-page character assassination" of the duke.

It delved into Andrew's various murky financial deals over the years, his "unbelievably cruel" treatment of household staff, his dealings with Epstein and his fall from grace in the eyes of the British public.

The author described the duke's relationship with his nephew Prince William as "problematic".

He went on to suggest William would banish his uncle from the family once he is king.

Prince Andrew may have relished his inclusion at Tuesday's family gathering, knowing all too well how uncomfortable his presence made Prince William.

As for the King, who may have found it difficult to avoid rubbing shoulders with his brother, may look back upon the afternoon and agree that some decisions are better than others.

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