The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are likely feeling vindicated as the Commonwealth Day Service loses its broadcast coverage and Prince Andrew's hopes for a fresh start in the Middle East are dashed amid ongoing conflict. The BBC's decision not to air the event live, replacing it with Escape to the Country, has left royal insiders speechless and raised questions about the relevance of the monarchy, the Commonwealth, and the Church of England.
Andrew, who was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and released pending further investigation, will remain at his Norfolk home while senior royals attend the service at Westminster Abbey. Once a major royal event, the gathering now sees only King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, Princess Anne, and Sir Tim Laurence in attendance, with an average age in the late 60s.
Royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan described the treatment of Harry and Meghan as 'petty' in light of the Andrew scandal. The couple were stripped of taxpayer-funded royal security after being told they could not represent the crown part-time, facing a £6 million annual bill for protection, as detailed in Harry's memoir Spare. They covered the costs through lucrative deals with Netflix and Penguin Random House, which breached the royal rule of 'never complain, never explain'.
Acheampong-Hagan suggested that the airing of internal royal dysfunction could have been avoided if the Firm had compromised with Harry and Meghan, who still wished to represent the crown in some capacity. The couple's last major royal engagement was the 2020 Commonwealth Day Service, and their exit now appears increasingly heavy-handed and shortsighted as the monarchy faces challenges from Andrew's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which he denies.
