William and Kate are ‘concerned’ Andrew’s arrest will hurt the King’s health amid ‘frustration’ they can’t speak out after hinting at turmoil at Baftas
Prince William’s diplomatic outburst at BAFTA about his own mental health was a sign of his deep ‘disappointment’ at the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, fears for his father’s health and his desire to say more.
A royal source said the Prince and Princess of Wales were clearly ‘itching’ to publicly distance themselves further from the future king’s freewheeling uncle.
Another well-placed source claims the couple have become increasingly concerned about the impact of Andrew’s arrest on the health of the King, who continues to battle cancer.
They said, ‘He’s tired and it’s draining on him.’
William last night admitted he was ‘not in a calm state’ as the extraordinary Andrew drama shook the Royal Family, with some claiming the future of the institution was at stake.
While police searches continued at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Andrew was released on bail and holed up at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.
Prince William, who appeared in public for the first time after his uncle’s sensational arrest, accompanied his wife Kate to the Bafta awards in London.
William and Kate worry about impact of Andrew’s arrest on King’s health
Princess of Wales and husband ‘itching’ to say more to get away from Andrew
Andrew’s arrest last week sparked a crisis for both him and the Royal Family.
Their majestic appearances signaled the Royal Family’s determination to put their difficulties aside, but it seems the issues surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were not far from William’s mind.
‘William is frustrated because it will still be an issue for him when he eventually becomes King,’ a royal insider told the Daily Mail today.
‘I’m sure the Prince and Princess of Wales are dying to say something publicly to put some distance between themselves, but they need to be careful because of the police investigation.
‘I think William and Kate are acutely aware that this is a scandal that will not go away for a long time. ‘This is a mess left by Andrew and the late Queen, and although Her Majesty is in charge, William is frustrated.’
William was clearly very happy to have his wife by his side.
Kate told Bafta members last night that, unlike her husband, she watched Hamnet on Saturday night and was left ‘in flood of tears’.
“I actually thought it was a bad idea,” the princess joked as she watched the tragic childhood death of William Shakespeare’s son.
‘By the end my eyes were so swollen.’
Kate recycled one of her favorite rose Gucci dresses and paired it with a burgundy belt; William wore a matching blazer.
‘The Princess looked very elegant but you could see that all this was causing tension and that was the last thing she needed,’ the Mail’s source said.
While the Princess has remained mum on the ongoing issues with Andrew, royal sources said the couple’s main concern was for the health of the King, who is still battling cancer.
A second source told the Daily Mail: ‘Clearly William is not feeling calm and would speak on behalf of both of them.
‘This is a terrible situation and they are very concerned about the King’s health and the impact this will have on him. He’s tired and it’s draining on him.
‘Also as parents of young children it’s pretty scary to read all this and they’re clearly worrying.
‘William let this come out last during a conversation and he would have done so on purpose, that’s clear. But Catherine kept very quiet.’
The Prince and Princess’ appearance at BAFTA last night comes amid calls for the King to reveal how much he knew about Andrew’s alleged misconduct before his arrest over allegations of misconduct in public office.
The Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend that the monarch had been warned that the Royal Family’s name was being ‘exploited’ by his younger brother’s business partners.
Making an unprecedented statement following Andrew’s arrest, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King “wholeheartedly supports and cooperates” with the investigation.
The king was pictured in the church yesterday
Police came to search Royal Lodge Windsor for the third day
Join the discussion
Should more transparency be demanded from the Palace?
The King’s statement added: ‘I have learned with deep concern of the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the suspicion of misconduct in public office.
‘What will now come is a full, fair and appropriate process to ensure that this matter is investigated appropriately and by the relevant authorities. As I said before, we have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation on this matter.
‘Let me be clear: The law must take its course.’
William and Kate are understood to support the King’s statement.
King Charles has said he will give police access to all files and records needed for any investigation into his disgraced brother.
The arrest comes after Thames Valley Police said it was ‘assessing’ reports that Andrew shared secret trading reports and investment opportunities with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 and 2011, when he was Britain’s special trade envoy to Asia.
Andrew was questioned for 11 hours following his arrest and was photographed unconscious in a Range Rover as he left Aylsham Police Investigation Centre.
He was taken from Wood Farm on the royal estate of Sandringham in Norfolk after being evicted by King Charles from his residence Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier this month.
Police searched Wood Farm and are searching the seven-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion as part of the investigation.
Police now have wide leeway to expand their investigation and will “follow the evidence” if they come across another crime while combing through the former prince’s files and belongings, The Observer reported.
