Prince William Pushed to Banish Uncle Andrew From Royal Family

The future king saw Andrew as an "ignoramus" and "stain" on the monarchy long before the Epstein scandal, a new book reveals.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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According to a new book, Prince William has long held a negative view of his uncle Prince Andrew and pushed for him to be "banished from the institution" of the royal family, even before the Jeffrey Epstein scandal came to light. William saw Andrew as an "ignoramus" who behaved with entitlement and a "bullying attitude" toward staff, and believed he would be a "stain" on the monarchy.

Why it matters

Prince Andrew has faced intense public scrutiny and legal troubles over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was 17, leading to a high-profile lawsuit that Andrew settled out of court in 2022. The royal family has also faced investigations into Andrew's conduct as a U.K. trade envoy. William's longstanding opposition to his uncle's role in the family highlights the growing influence of the future king.

The details

According to royal author Russell Myers, William "made his voice known that Andrew should have no place within the monarchy, both publicly and privately." William saw Andrew as an "ignoramus" who behaved with entitlement and a "bullying attitude" toward staff, and believed he would be a "stain" on the royal family. While William's concerns predate the Epstein scandal, his push for stronger action against Andrew intensified after the disastrous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview that ended Andrew's royal career.

  • In 2001, Virginia Giuffre says she was trafficked to Prince Andrew when she was 17.
  • In 2010, Andrew was embroiled in a scandal over leaked confidential government documents while serving as a U.K. trade envoy.
  • In 2019, Andrew's BBC Newsnight interview about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein ended his royal career.
  • In 2022, Andrew settled a lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre out of court.
  • In 2023, King Charles III welcomed Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson back into the royal fold, against William's wishes.

The players

Prince William

The eldest son of King Charles III and the future King of the United Kingdom. William has long held a negative view of his uncle Prince Andrew and pushed for him to be removed from the royal family.

Prince Andrew

The younger brother of King Charles III, also known as the Duke of York. Andrew has faced intense public scrutiny and legal troubles over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre

An American woman who accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her in 2001 when she was 17 and a victim of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking.

Russell Myers

A royal author who wrote the book "William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era" which details Prince William's longstanding opposition to his uncle Prince Andrew.

King Charles III

The current monarch of the United Kingdom, who initially welcomed Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson back into the royal fold despite William's objections.

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What they’re saying

“Certainly, he made his voice known that Andrew should have no place within the monarchy, both publicly and privately. He should be banished from the institution.”

— Russell Myers, Royal Author (Newsweek)

“He should have no role within the family because he would be a stain on it. And certainly, if they were going to keep him close, as the late Queen and indeed Charles did for a couple of years in his reign, that was going to be a major problem.”

— Russell Myers, Royal Author (Newsweek)

“Long before he [Mountbatten-Windsor] was embroiled in the scandal, [William had] always thought his uncle was a bit of an ignoramus. He would question 'what does he actually do?', but it was more than that.”

— Palace Source (Newsweek)

What’s next

Thames Valley Police are continuing their criminal investigation into Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and a decision on whether to charge him has not yet been made.

The takeaway

Prince William's longstanding opposition to his uncle Prince Andrew's role in the royal family highlights the future king's growing influence and his determination to uphold the monarchy's reputation, even when it means confronting members of his own family.