How Prince Louis’ Place in the Monarchy Could Be Impacted Due To Andrew’s Scandals
What will become of Prince Louis is an increasingly complicated question for the monarchy. In theory, once Prince William takes the throne, Louis would be poised to inherit the Duke of York title, as has traditionally been the case for the monarch’s second son. But the title that once seemed destined for the young Prince has become the most radioactive inheritance now. The Dukedom of York is now viewed as almost cursed, and that has everything to do with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s fall from grace and his shift from monarch’s son to a commoner.
Tradition is as strong as the reputation attached to it. Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Dukedom of York to Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson in 1986. And before that, both her father, King George VI, and her grandfather, King George V, had held the title. With Mountbatten-Windsor stripped of his roles and public standing, royal expert Hilary Fordwich believes the title may be quietly retired rather than passed to Louis. She told Fox News Digital, “The terribly tarnished title of Duke of York will not be offered to Prince Louis or, for that matter, any other royal, probably in our lifetimes, nor in the foreseeable future. It will most likely be put in abeyance to die with Prince Andrew. Tradition should be abandoned to restore public trust and to demonstrate moral clarity.”
Against this backdrop, the parenting styles of the Prince and Princess of Wales are all the more significant. They have made a deliberate effort to raise their children with far fewer expectations than past heirs and ‘spares,’ giving them space to become their own people rather than characters in a predetermined script, as has happened for generations of royal offspring. While Prince George is inevitably being eased into his future as a monarch, Princess Charlotte and Louis are reportedly being raised with the idea that they have genuine choices.
Earlier, royal commentators have pushed the idea that both William and Kate Middleton are ready to set the royal playbook aside when it comes to their children. That means no automatic assumption that either child will step into full-time royal duties unless they genuinely want to. Royal author Ingrid Seward told The I Paper, earlier, “It’s not like it was in Charles’ youth. Nowadays, children make their own decisions. It’s just so different from when even William was brought up. I think children have immense choices now that they didn’t have even 15 years ago.”
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith had also earlier observed, “I would imagine Charlotte will be part of the picture. I’m not so sure about Louis.” Charlotte, currently third in line, has already shown confidence at public events that draws comparisons to her great-aunt Princess Anne, the monarchy’s most relentless workhorse. Louis, meanwhile, fourth in line, remains largely shielded from the public eye, making an appearance occasionally for endearing balcony moments but otherwise enjoying a childhood mostly free from scrutiny.