Explosive accusations have surfaced about Prince Andrew's interactions with royal staff, painting a picture of tension behind palace doors.
According to Scottish Daily Express, Former butler Paul Burrell characterizes Prince Andrew’s dealings with staff as fraught, marked by shouting and derogatory behavior.
Paul Burrell, who began his royal service at 18 as a footman at Buckingham Palace, quickly ascended to become Queen Elizabeth's footman. His proximity to the royal family gave him intimate insight into their dynamics. Over the years, Burrell’s career expanded as he served at Highgrove House and later joined Princess Diana's Kensington Palace staff following her divorce from Prince Charles.
In a revealing documentary on Channel 5 titled "The Palace: What the Royal Servants Saw," Burrell shared that royal staff would often go out of their way to evade Prince Andrew due to his challenging demeanor. His alleged propensity for shouting and swearing created an atmosphere where staff felt more comfortable staying away.
Burrell’s claims suggest that Prince Andrew had not only a temperamental side but also wielded considerable influence within the royal sphere, particularly with Queen Elizabeth, who was reported to have favored him as her "favourite son." This special status allegedly enabled him to have direct access to the Queen in times of personal distress.
A specific incident recounted by royal author Valentine Low illustrates the extent of Andrew's purportedly harsh behavior. During a rainy day at Richmond Park in London, Prince Andrew was reportedly rude to the Queen's former press secretary, James Roscoe, over a misunderstanding involving an umbrella. Andrew aggressively confronted Roscoe after he asked Army officers to find an umbrella for the Queen, using explicit language that shocked those present.
The confrontation showcased not only Andrew's temper but also his disregard for the efforts of others, as it took a while for an officer to successfully locate an umbrella for the Queen. This behavior underscored the difficulties staff faced in managing interactions with him.
About a week after the umbrella incident, the Queen herself referenced the event in a conversation with Roscoe, highlighting the unusual nature of the interaction and possibly signaling her awareness of her son's challenging behavior.
Royal author Tom Quinn has shed light on another dimension of Prince Andrew’s personality through his belief in his suitability for kingship. Andrew considers himself a "manly man," which in his view, makes him better suited for the throne than his brother. This belief reflects a deep-seated perception of royal duty and leadership, which contrasts with the more modern, less traditional approaches of other family members.
The revelations about Prince Andrew's behavior and personal beliefs add a layer of complexity to the public's understanding of the royal family's internal dynamics. They suggest a clash between Andrew’s perception of royal identity and the evolving public expectations of modern monarchy.
This story, as told by those who worked closely with the royal family, offers a rare glimpse into the pressures and challenges within Britain's most famous household. The anecdotes and insights provided by Burrell and others contribute to an ongoing conversation about the role of tradition and personality in royal duties and personal interactions.
