The decline of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once the favored son of the late Queen, to a disgraced former duke has highlighted the contrasting treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Buckingham Palace issued a significant statement in response to mounting public outrage over Andrew’s alleged sexual assault and association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace revealed that King Charles had initiated the formal process of stripping Andrew of his royal titles and relocating him from Royal Lodge.
Despite Andrew’s prior decision to relinquish his titles voluntarily, King Charles proceeded to officially revoke them, prompting Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge, where he held a secure long-term lease, for a residence at Sandringham on the monarch’s private estate. Following his withdrawal from royal duties six years ago, it wasn’t until early 2022, when his accuser Virginia Giuffre filed a civil case against him in the US, that Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages, military positions, and police security.
In contrast, when Harry and Meghan chose to step back from their royal responsibilities, their taxpayer-funded security was promptly withdrawn. After Harry’s revealing memoir “Spare” shed light on the internal dysfunction within the House of Windsor in 2023, he and Meghan were forced to leave their UK residence at Frogmore Cottage, despite having prepaid rent and reimbursed renovation costs funded by the Sovereign Grant during their time as working royals.
Royal expert Afua Acheampong-Hagan emphasized the disparity in protection between Andrew and Harry and Meghan, suggesting that Andrew received substantially more support despite his controversies. She criticized the differential treatment, highlighting the challenges faced by Harry and Meghan, particularly in light of Meghan’s struggles with mental health issues that she candidly discussed in a 2019 ITV documentary and her later revelations of experiencing suicidal thoughts during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Harry’s memoir also touched on the unequal treatment, noting that despite Andrew being embroiled in scandalous allegations, his security wasn’t jeopardized, unlike the precarious situation faced by Harry and Meghan. The expert underscored the perceived favoritism towards Andrew, labeling it as a stark contrast to the challenges endured by Meghan.
