When news broke that Prince Andrew would not only attend Prince Philip’s memorial service in March 2022, but would also accompany Queen Elizabeth II publicly and be photographed at her side, the reaction was immediate and intense. It marked his first high-visibility appearance since stepping back from royal duties and losing his honorary military titles amid the fallout from sexual-abuse allegations and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. For many observers, the palace decision signaled an attempt to rehabilitate Andrew’s public image, using the solemnity and sympathy attached to Philip’s memorial to soften outrage. The optics were unmistakable: the Queen arriving arm-in-arm with Andrew sent a powerful message that she still supported him personally, even as the public and institutions distanced themselves.
The backlash was swift. Critics argued that the move undermined the monarchy’s credibility and disrespected survivors who had spent years demanding accountability. Commentators across political and media lines described it as a miscalculated public-relations gamble, noting that appearing with the Queen blurred the line between private loyalty and public responsibility. Many royal watchers worried that the moment reignited anger at a time when the palace was already fighting reputational damage from scandals and internal conflict. Even supporters of the monarchy expressed confusion and disappointment, questioning why Andrew of all people was selected to escort the Queen on such a high-profile occasion. For many, the incident accelerated the belief that the royal family was out of touch with public sentiment and willing to risk further backlash to protect its own.
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