LONDON - The British royal family is now facing new pressure on their public image. Royal experts warn that "The Firm" must be careful not to appear more in favor of scandal-plagued Prince Andrew, compared to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This warning comes as Andrew's popularity has plummeted to an all-time low, with the latest poll showing only 3 percent of Britons still support King Charles' younger brother after his links to the Jeffrey Epstein case resurfaced.
King Charles III has actually taken a firm step by stripping Andrew of his royal title and status, as well as asking him to leave his residence at the Royal Lodge. However, the King's decision to offer Andrew a new home at the Sandringham Estate as a residence is considered to be a boomerang. Dr. Tessa Dunlop highlighted that the provision of this home facility contrasts with the expulsion of Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage in 2023, which could create a bad public perception of the monarchy.
This condition is exacerbated by the release of Virginia Giuffre's memoir and Andrew Lownie's explosive biography which exposes the York family. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, was also dragged into the "toxic" vortex after her personal emails with Epstein were revealed to the public. This caused a number of charities to sever ties with him and his children's book project was canceled, adding to the long list of reputational damage for Andrew's inner circle.
On the other hand, citing a report by The Mirror, Saturday, January 17, even though Harry and Meghan's popularity in England is also declining, their position is still considered much better than Andrew. Harry himself had expressed his disappointment in the memoir Spare, where he felt it was unfair that his police security was revoked while Andrew still maintained it despite being involved in a serious scandal. Dr. Dunlop assessed that compared to the moral violations alleged against Andrew, "the mistake" of Harry and Meghan now seems much lighter in the eyes of the public.
The challenge for King Charles will become more apparent when Harry and Meghan are scheduled to return to the UK for next year's Invictus Games. The public will be watching closely how the palace treats the Duke and Duchess of Sussex compared to Andrew. If the monarchy is seen as more protective of family members who are embroiled in a scandal than those who simply disagree, it is feared that this will erode public confidence in the House of Windsor institution permanently.
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