Andrew Frequently Used a Sneaky Tactic to Get Queen Elizabeth to Overrule Palace Aides
Andrew allegedly used private Sunday sessions to overturn official Palace decisions.
For decades, the British monarchy’s inner workings have been protected by the ‘men in grey suits,’ — the stoic Palace officials who have spent the majority of their time protecting the sovereign and upholding protocol at all costs. However, while other senior royals strictly followed the established rules, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly used his position as the ‘favorite’ son to manipulate the late Queen Elizabeth into giving him his own way. Royal expert Robert Hardman, who has extensively commented on the Royal Family, revealed the tactic the former Duke allegedly used to lobby the Queen for favors that aides had already blocked.
The former Duke of York allegedly exploited his mother’s affection and a specific gap in her weekly schedule to bypass official refusals. Speaking on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast, Hardman remarked that whenever Mountbatten-Windsor was told that a request was impossible, his go-to move was to countermand that order and drop in for a cup of tea with the Queen on a Sunday afternoon — effectively using the quiet period to turn the situation to his advantage. While the working week was dominated by advisors who would firmly tell the former Prince, “Well, I'm sorry, Sir, we can’t do this, we can’t do that,” the intimacy of a Sunday tea provided the perfect vacuum for the disgraced royal to exert his influence.
Hardman observed that during these sessions, the former Prince would present his version of events to the late Queen, aware that she was likely to yield to his requests when her officials weren’t present to offer a rebuttal. The royal expert illustrated the manipulation, suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor would say, “Oh Mummy, you wouldn't believe what they've told me I can't do. It's ridiculous. I'm sure you don't mind me doing this. It's going to be a good idea. You must agree.” Elizabeth’s maternal soft spot meant she would eventually succumb to her “bouncy, lively” son whenever he reached out in person.
Hardman added that once the Queen said, “Alright, yes,” the former Prince would inform officials on Monday, confidently asserting that he had his mother’s permission, often stating, “No, it’s quite all right. I've got the Queen's permission. It's going to happen. I'm going to do XYZ.” Even though she allegedly gave him his way, her compliance didn’t mean she wasn’t troubled — in fact, she harbored persistent worries about her son. While Elizabeth fretted over Princess Anne working too hard, her concerns for Mountbatten-Windsor were far more complex.
Despite being ‘adored’ by the late Queen, Hardman highlighted a contradiction in the former Prince’s nature, calling him ‘headstrong’ and ‘sheepish,’ a personality mix that often led to royal blunders. The expert explained, “But by the time he was a young adult, it was quite clear that he was quite impressionable. He was a bit boorish. He could say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing.” Though he remained Elizabeth’s favorite for years, his ability to cross the system eventually ran out. Following the release of the Epstein files, he has now been stripped of his titles, honors, and residence — leading an isolated life at Marsh Farm, completely different from the entitled life he once knew.
