Tensions continue to rise between King Charles III and his brother, Prince Andrew, following the recent resurgence of another email exchange between Andrew and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The renewed focus on these ties comes as the relationship between the royal brothers is reportedly at a breaking point.
The Telegraph reported on Monday, October 13, that there is "nothing left" in the relationship between King Charles and Prince Andrew. This latest development follows earlier reports of Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, being excluded from the royal family’s upcoming Christmas celebration.
King Charles has reportedly made it clear that he prefers the Duke and Duchess of York, who divorced in 1996, to remain "invisible" at future royal gatherings. A source close to the King indicated that while "you can’t sack someone for being your brother," their honorable absence this year would be for the best, sparing the King from difficult decisions.
The decision to exclude the pair stems partly from recent controversy surrounding Ferguson. Earlier this month, a contentious 2011 email purportedly sent by Ferguson to Epstein resurfaced, weeks after she had publicly distanced herself from the disgraced financier.
Reports from The Sun and Mail on Sunday detailed the message, in which Ferguson allegedly wrote that Epstein "has always been a constant, generous and supreme friend to me and my family."
A spokesperson for Ferguson stated that the email was sent to counteract a defamation threat from Epstein. The Duchess has expressed regret over her past association with Epstein, claiming she was misled by his lies. The spokesperson added that she cut contact and publicly condemned him once she learned the full extent of the accusations against him.
Following these revelations, several charities, including Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation, and Children’s Literacy Charity, have reportedly distanced themselves from Ferguson in recent weeks.
In contrast to the deteriorating relationship with Andrew, King Charles is reportedly attempting to bridge the gap with Prince Harry. The father and son have been estranged since 2020, when Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their roles as active royals and relocated to California.
Harry recently visited his father on September 10 during a trip to London, marking their first in-person meeting in nearly two years. Sources close to the family described the reunion as "super positive and very relaxed."
The discussions included private conversations about Harry and Meghan’s children, as well as King Charles’s health. The source also indicated that the meeting involved "hugs and tears," suggesting a move towards reconciliation for the two.