A royal source has claimed that Prince Andrew feels Prince Harry has been “treated leniently compared to himself” despite the former duke “remaining loyal to the throne”.
The King’s brother returned to the headlines this week after he won a High Court battle over police raids of his two homes earlier this year. Thames Valley Police accepted the search warrants it used were unlawful and they have been quashed, the High Court was told. Despite this, the criminal investigation against Andrew remains ongoing and the former duke has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
Royal source claims Andrew compares treatment to Harry
A source has reportedly claimed that Andrew has compared himself to his nephew Prince Harry and alleged that other royals “feel he deserves credit for not rocking the royal boat”.
Andrew had all his royal titles, including prince, and privileges stripped by King Charles last year following scrutiny over his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The King’s brother was also forced to move out of Royal Lodge, his mansion home of 20 years.
Supporters compare treatment to Sussexes
Apparent supporters of Andrew have compared his treatment to that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the couple stepped down as senior royals and left the UK for the US in 2020.
A royal source, according to the Daily Mail, said: “He always has felt that his nephew has been treated leniently compared to himself, especially as Andrew has remained loyal to the throne and would never do anything that would cause trouble.”
“That’s very unlike Harry and Meg’s stone-throwing and tittle-tattling across the Pond. The wider family feels he deserves credit for not rocking the royal boat.”
Police raid legal battle
The former prince was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public and questioned for 12 hours on his 66th birthday, in February. At a court hearing on Thursday, Mr Justice Hilliard said a “significant error was made” by police and an unnamed Old Bailey judge. The force said it applied for search warrants under section eight and section nine of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 at the Old Bailey the day before the search.
The Old Bailey judge determined that the police only needed section eight search warrants but a legal challenge found that the court should have issued them under another section of the Act. Justice Hilliard said Thames Valley Police had made a fresh application under the correct section of the law which is opposed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The judge will decide next year if this should be granted.
Harry and Meghan relocated back to the UK in August with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, for an “extended stay”. The couple enrolled their kids into a British school, before moving them to another school just two days later due to security concerns.
