The decline of Andrew Mounbatten Windsor, once a cherished son of the late Queen, to a disgraced former duke, has highlighted the contrasting treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Buckingham Palace issued a significant statement in response to mounting public concerns regarding allegations of sexual assault against Andrew and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement revealed that King Charles had initiated the formal process of stripping Andrew of his royal titles and relocating him from Royal Lodge.
While Andrew had previously indicated his willingness to relinquish his titles, the King took a definitive step by officially revoking them. Consequently, Andrew will be vacating Royal Lodge, where he held a secure long-term lease, to reside on the monarch’s private Sandringham estate. Despite stepping back from royal duties six years ago, it was not until early 2022, following legal action by his accuser Virginia Giuffre in the US, that Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages, military roles, and police protection.
In contrast, when Harry and Meghan chose to exit their royal roles, their publicly-funded security was promptly withdrawn. Following the publication of Harry’s revealing memoir, the couple was even evicted from Frogmore Cottage in 2023, despite having made advance rent payments and reimbursed renovation costs funded by the Sovereign Grant. Royal expert Afua Acheampong-Hagan criticized the disparity in treatment, noting the extensive protection extended to Andrew compared to the harsh treatment of Harry and Meghan.
Acheampong-Hagan highlighted the preferential treatment Andrew received as the Queen’s favored son, emphasizing the lack of similar support for Meghan during her mental health struggles. Meghan openly discussed her challenges in a documentary, acknowledging the difficulties of royal life and the lack of concern shown towards her well-being. In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, she disclosed her battle with suicidal thoughts, a revelation echoed by Harry in his memoir, highlighting the unequal treatment between Andrew’s scandal and the lack of security threats towards the couple.