A royal insider has shared his insight into the relationships within the walls of the royal household, and one that was allegedly always strained was that between King Charles and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Grant Harrold, who was the former butler to King Charles III, has shared what the relationship between the two brothers was really like. Grant also suggested that the King was prepared to strip Andrew of his titles long before it took place because of an "inkling" that something was wrong.

Andrew's titles were officially stripped in November 2025, with his 'His Royal Highness' HRH, the 'Prince' title and the Dukedom of York being removed. A statement from Buckingham Palace was published on October 30, 2025, stating: "Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor."

In a video with LadBible, Grant told the publication: "I don't remember the King ever being particularly close to Prince Andrew." He continued: "The royal household always knows what's coming, I think the King probably had an inkline that something was wrong. That's why the King took such drastic measures and removed his titles."

The King was also praised as always being "very polite and kind to the staff" and someone with an "amazing sense of humour and loved playing practical jokes".

Elsewhere, it was reported that King Charles and Andrew won't be appearing in public together again after sources said their divide "reached new depths".

According to HELLO!, the estrangement between the two brothers is "beyond repair" and Charles and Andrew are unlikely to appear together publicly again, which they stated would likely include Christmases at Sandringham.

Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told HELLO! that the animosity runs so deep that "I don't think we'll see Andrew at Charles's funeral."

Lownie notes that tensions existed well before Andrew's association with Epstein. He said: "Andrew resented Charles. He felt that he could do a better job. Charles resented Andrew. He felt that Andrew was allowed to do things he couldn't do."