William Still Can't Fully Cut Off Andrew ― And It May Come Down To A Cause Close To His Heart
Prince William is reportedly acting as a quiet watchman over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s welfare despite his firm public 'hardliner' stance.
It is hard to imagine anyone within the monarchy harboring sympathy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a man who has, in recent years, singlehandedly eroded much of the public goodwill toward the institution. It is perhaps even more unexpected that any hint of empathy would stem from Prince William, who has long been regarded as his uncle's strongest critic. Yet, despite the Prince of Wales' alleged conviction that there is "no coming back" for the former Duke, royal biographer Robert Hardman, despite his reservations, the Prince still holds a soft spot for Mountbatten-Windsor.
While William has yet to ascend the throne, reports indicate he already wields significant influence over major decisions behind closed doors. Much of his focus has reportedly centered on Mountbatten-Windsor and the ongoing repercussions of his actions. Despite his firm stance, however, royal biographer Robert Hardman feels the Prince of Wales “is conscious that here is someone who is a very troubled soul and that at least the family does have to keep an eye on him.” This suggests that while the heir apparent may have closed the door on his disgraced uncle's return to public life, he has not entirely closed his heart to the ex-Duke's welfare.
The Prince of Wales has recently gained repute for being a “hardliner" regarding the monarchy's integrity, yet he reportedly reached out to the former Duke after he lost all his remaining royal titles in October last year. Speaking to OK! Magazine Hardman noted, “Andrew had been very touched when Prince William was one of the few people to call to offer condolences."
Extending empathy toward the former Duke is undoubtedly a bold and potentially risky move that could impact William's standing in the court of public opinion. However, the Prince’s desire to check in on his uncle likely stems from a deeply rooted conviction. Mental health advocacy has been the cornerstone of William's public work for years. So, as per the royal biographer, while the Prince is 'thoughtful' and 'serious,' he is also “particularly concerned about the whole issue of mental health, and that’s something that’s been a key strand of his work."
Hardman continued, “I think he understood that his uncle Andrew may have behaved appallingly in many ways over many years. But at the same time, he’s a member of the family." The biographer noted that William saw someone being "completely humiliated, publicly humiliated, degraded, disgraced, handed a punishment that no member of the family has had — to have all their titles taken away, to be effectively un-royal, de-royaled.”
Today, Mountbatten-Windsor not only faces a rather irredeemable distance from the Royal Family but also tangible threats to his security. Since his move to Marsh Farm last month, this vulnerability has become a reality, with at least two reported security breaches that could have resulted in physical harm. In April, two strangers trespassed into Marsh Farm, while more recently, a masked man attacked him last week.
