Royal Central - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
PHOTO: SIIM TELLER VIA PHOTOPIN CC
The Duke of York is being used as a tool to disrupt the Coronation celebrations, with the 63-year-old royal likely to be at the centre of anti-monarchy protests.
Prince Andrew stepped down as a working royal in 2019 following furore over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On Coronation Day, Channel 4 will air a programme about the Duke as part of their ‘alternative programming’ countering the Coronation coverage of other channels.
Andrew – The Problem Prince, will examine Prince Andrew’s downfall and the BBC Newsnight interview which sealed his fate in November 2019.
Anti-monarchy will also likely attempt to capitalise on the Prince’s toxic image.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the only disruption on the procession route came when an anti-monarchy protestor hurled abuse at the Duke of York.
It is expected that the Duke will keep a low profile during the commemorations, although he will certainly be a talking point.
Prince Andrew will not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Coronation Day – an occasion reserved only for working royals.
It is also unlikely that he, or any of the other royal dukes, will pay homage to The King at his Coronation – the exception being the Prince of Wales.