King Charles Advised Against Meeting Andrew to Avoid ‘Escalating’ Things Again: Expert

Royal expert Ailsa Anderson believed the King should avoid meeting Andrew as it would only bring his scandals "back to the surface again."

Since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, questions have surfaced about the future of the monarchy. While many praised King Charles for placing duty above family, some wondered if he would soften his stance on his brother in the future. That, however, did not happen on March 1, during the King's visit to Sandringham, where he avoided meeting his brother. Commenting on the situation, royal expert Ailsa Anderson warned that Charles must continue to avoid such meetings, as it would only do more harm than good.

Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive Show, Anderson, who was the late Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, weighed in on Mountbatten-Windsor's fallout. She said of a potential meeting between Charles and his brother, "I think if the King went to see him, somebody would take a shot…It would escalate the story, and it would bring it back to the surface again. So, yes, I agree that the King is probably in communication on the telephone." She added, "I think he's [Charles] right not to go and see him because I just think the story would suddenly resurface and escalate and all the things that the Palace doesn't want," referring to his recent visit to Sandringham.

However, royal expert Phil Dampier begged to differ, offering a different take on the situation. He opined, "I think probably he's [Charles] talking to him [Andrew] behind the scenes and saying, 'Look, I'm sorry, I've had to do this for the sake of the monarchy.'" Claiming that the King may feel pity for Mountbatten-Windsor as a brother, he stressed that it would be 'surprising' if the two did not meet anytime soon. 

During his recent Sandringham visit, Charles began the new month with a prayer service in Norfolk, but forgiveness was far from his mind. PEOPLE reported that the monarch had visited Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor's current royal residence, on February 28 and March 1, but did not cross paths with him, and does not wish to do so anytime soon. The King, who had retreated to Sandringham following a busy week, was photographed shortly before 3 pm on February 28, arriving in a black Range Rover. The next day, he flew to Norfolk by helicopter.