Before his mother’s death, the duke was already going through a significant amount of turmoil.
By the time Andrew was born in 1960, Elizabeth was comfortable with her royal responsibilities.
“The baby is adorable,” she wrote to a cousin at the time, per theDaily Mail.
“He’s going to be terribly spoilt by all of us, I’m sure.”
Their mother-son closeness remained during the queen’s final years, particularly amid the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Elizabeth died, Andrew missed having her as a confidante.
In July 2023,Sarah Ferguson revealed that Andrew continued to mourn his parents.
“He said it’s lonely.
He thinks about it a lot,” Fergie recalled.
“We’re the happiest divorced couple in the world,” Fergie informed theDaily Mailin 2018.
“We’re divorced to each other, not from each other.
I stand by him and always will.”
Likewise, Andrew has expressed a similar attachment to his ex-wife.
In 2019, the duke gave an emotional tribute to Fergie in honor of her 60thbirthday.
About a month later, Andrew was spotted taking her on a drive around Windsor.
“They’re utterly devoted and would defend each other to the death,” a former courtier toldExpress.
Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, has also lived on the property since 2008.
However, it seems Charles changed his plans in light of Fergie’s breast cancer surgery recovery.
They first became grandparents in February 2021, when August, Eugenie’s first child, was born.
Their second grandbaby, Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Sienna, arrived in September that same year.
According to Fergie, Andrew is a very enthusiastic grandparent.
“It’s a joy to see him really shine as a grandfather.”
), “I’m probably one of the best grannies ever.”
Even so, she feels a bit competitive with Andrew.
“I worry he’s a better grandparent than me!”
Now,King Charles has reportedly drawn a hard line on Andrew’s role.
This decision could also help the duke and the rest of the family.
