Prince Andrew has been accused of making disparaging remarks about Kate Middleton, which reportedly created a major rift with his nephew, Prince William. The claims come from royal biographer Andrew Lownie in his new book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.
According to Lownie, the Duke of York’s “nasty” and “unkind” words about the Princess of Wales reflected jealousy over her growing role within the monarchy, particularly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The biographer told OK! Magazine that he was surprised by the allegations, describing Kate as “the family’s saving grace.”
Speaking to RadarOnline, Lownie added: “I’d have thought Prince Andrew would respect William as future king, rather than being nasty about his wife.”
Strained ties within the Royal Family
Sources close to the royals suggest these alleged remarks marked a turning point for Prince William, who has long struggled with his uncle’s behavior. Known for his strong sense of duty, William is said to have grown increasingly frustrated with Andrew, especially at a time when the family is under pressure to modernize and maintain public trust.
“Everyone is pulling together – Charles, Anne, Edward, William, and others – but the whole side has been let down by Prince Andrew,” Lownie said. Insiders described the relationship between William and Andrew as “incredibly strained,” noting that the Duke has become “a significant contributor of headaches for the family.”
Prince William’s future plans for his uncle
The feud could carry serious consequences for Prince Andrew’s future role. Lownie’s book claims that when William ascends the throne, he intends to take decisive action against his uncle, including the possibility of evicting him from the Royal Lodge, where Andrew currently resides with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
One source quoted in the book told the New York Post: “He also loathes Sarah, Andrew’s ex-wife, and can’t wait for the day when his father throws them both out. If Charles doesn’t, I guarantee you the first thing William does when he eventually becomes king is to get them evicted.”
Although the exact wording of Andrew’s comments about Kate has not been revealed, Lownie described them as sufficiently rude and damaging to convince William that his uncle poses a lasting threat to the monarchy’s reputation.