Princess Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, reportedly "loathes" her brother-in-law Prince Andrew, according to a royal insider. The friction stems from Andrew's attempt to boost his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, up the royal pecking order while lobbying against the promotion of Sophie's children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex.
Andrew's Selfish Lobbying Sparks Royal Rift
Before Andrew's downfall, Beatrice and Eugenie were often seen as potential working royals, especially given King Charles's fondness for them. Andrew lobbied his brother for them to be included alongside senior royals like Prince William, Princess Catherine, and Princess Anne. However, in a bid to align with the King's wish for a smaller monarchy, he reportedly argued that Edward and Sophie's children should not receive similar promotion.
According to the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column, this sparked "quite a regal ding-dong" and the pair have never repaired their friendship. Andrew lost his royal titles in 2022 after being embroiled in controversy and scandal, including allegations of sexual assault, which he has always denied, and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sophie Cold-Shoulders Andrew at Royal Events
The tension between Sophie and Andrew was evident at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent last year. Sophie cold-shouldered Andrew at the event, where he also tried awkwardly to make small talk with a clearly uninterested Prince William. Edward and Sophie opted not to use their children's royal titles and styles when they were born, and while the pair had the right to use them when they turned 18, they have chosen not to.
Andrew's Arrest and Ongoing Controversy
In February 2026, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has since been seen supporting his sister-in-law at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials, where Sophie was competing. Despite this show of support, the underlying friction remains. The scandal that has engulfed Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has ended any hopes that Beatrice and Eugenie might have had of becoming working royals.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. However, further revelations about his friendship with the late financier, as well as his arrest under suspicion of handing sensitive data to Epstein, have ended any hopes of a royal comeback. King Charles stripped Andrew of his royal titles in 2022, and the disgraced prince remains a diminished figure within the Royal Family.
