Prince Harry's Position on Andrew's Arrest Revealed by Close Insider
An insider with direct knowledge of Prince Harry's perspective has broken their silence regarding the Duke of York's dramatic arrest, revealing the Duke of Sussex's true feelings about the unfolding scandal. The revelations come as Prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor spent the majority of his 66th birthday in police custody following his arrest at his temporary Sandringham residence.
The Arrest and Investigation Details
Police authorities arrested Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office, specifically concerning his connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York remained in custody for approximately eleven hours before being photographed leaving the police station appearing visibly shaken. Extensive searches have been conducted at properties in both Sandringham and Royal Lodge in Windsor, with investigative operations reportedly continuing throughout the weekend.
Andrew currently remains under active investigation while authorities pursue their inquiries. In a significant development, government sources indicate that legislative measures to completely remove Andrew from the royal line of succession will be explored once the police investigation concludes. This process would require parliamentary action and agreement across all fourteen British realms.
Harry's Historical Position and Current Frustrations
According to the insider who spoke exclusively about the situation, Prince Harry finds himself in a complex position regarding his uncle's legal troubles. The Duke of Sussex first publicly addressed concerns about Andrew several years ago in his memoir Spare, at a time when other senior royals maintained their silence on the matter.
The source explained: "Harry made his views about Andrew abundantly clear in his book three years ago, when other parts of the institution remained silent. For that candour he was vilified and ostracised by the institution, sections of the press and significant parts of British society for challenging the status quo."
This historical context has reportedly created frustrations within Harry's Montecito household regarding what they perceive as extended silence from other members of the royal family concerning Andrew's situation. Unlike the traditional "never complain, never explain" approach often adopted by the monarchy, Harry has previously been vocal about his perspectives but now appears to be allowing other family members to take the lead in public commentary.
Security Concerns and Royal Comparisons
In his revealing memoir, Prince Harry detailed why he was particularly shocked when police security was removed from his family during their stay in Canada shortly after announcing their royal departure in 2020. At that time, the COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly escalating, borders were closing, and the family felt vulnerable with their location publicly known.
Harry specifically referenced Andrew in his writing, noting that despite his uncle's involvement in what he described as "an embarrassing scandal" involving accusations of sexual misconduct, Andrew never faced suggestions that his security should be removed. This comparison highlighted what Harry perceived as inconsistent treatment within royal security protocols.
The Duke of Sussex wrote: "Despite being involved in an embarrassing scandal, accused of having sexually abused a young woman, nobody had suggested removing his security. People may have a lot of grievances towards us, but sexual offences weren't one of them."
Royal Family Responses and Financial Arrangements
King Charles issued a strong statement last autumn announcing the official removal of Andrew's titles and styles while expressing support for survivors. Following news of the arrest, the King released another personal statement emphasizing that "the law must take its course."
Other senior royals have also commented recently, with the Prince and Princess of Wales stating they are "deeply concerned" about the allegations, and Prince Edward urging people to "remember the victims" during a foreign tour engagement.
Financially, Andrew now relies on what has been described as a "modest stipend" provided by King Charles, with sources suggesting the monarch feels obligated to cover his brother's costs due to Andrew's historically unsuccessful attempts at financial independence. This arrangement may potentially extend to covering legal costs arising from ongoing investigations if Andrew proves unable to pay them himself.
Political Considerations and Succession Implications
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has commented on the constitutional implications, stating that Parliament will need to consider Andrew's position in the line of succession when appropriate. Sir Ed emphasized that the monarchy will undoubtedly want to ensure Andrew can never ascend to the throne, though he stressed that the immediate priority must be allowing police to conduct their investigation without interference.
The process of removing Andrew from succession would represent a significant constitutional undertaking requiring coordinated action across multiple Commonwealth realms. Government sources indicate that formal consultations regarding this matter will not commence until all investigations have reached their conclusion.
Andrew has consistently denied all accusations of wrongdoing and sexual assault levied against him. His 2019 BBC interview, widely criticized as disastrous, preceded his stepping back from official royal duties, though he retained police security and continued living at Royal Lodge until recently relocating to Norfolk.
