Prince Andrew accompanies Queen to Prince Philip's memorial service
The decision to have the Duke of York accompany his mother to the Service of Thanksgiving will be seen as a clear sign of Her Majesty's support for her son.
Tuesday 29 March 2022 19:57, UK
Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen to Prince Philip's memorial service in what will be seen as a clear signal of Her Majesty's support for her son.
The Service of Thanksgiving marks Prince Andrew's first public appearance since he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages and paid millions out of court to settle a civil sexual assault case.
The two royals travelled together from Windsor Castle to Westminster Abbey in the Queen's state limousine.
As they walked through the Poets' Corner towards her seat in the abbey, the monarch held on to her son's elbow with her left hand and had a walking stick in her right.
At the end of the aisle they separated - with Andrew giving a last glance to his mother as she turned right to take her seat next to Prince Charles.
The Duke of York also sat in the front row but across the aisle.
After the service concluded, he escorted Her Majesty out of the abbey - at one point breaking into a smile as she stopped to greet Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award holder Doyin Sonibare.
The pair were seen leaving together in the Queen's car.
It has been more than a month since Prince Andrew's settlement with his accuser Virginia Giuffre, in which he pledged to make a "substantial donation" to her charity which supports sex trafficking victims.
In January, the Queen stripped her second son of his prestigious honorary military titles and royal patronages, and he stopped using his HRH style, in a move that effectively cast him adrift from the institution.
Last month, a letter submitted to the US District Court said Andrew "regrets his association" with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The scandal led to Andrew stepping down from royal duties in November 2019.
The Queen's decision to let Andrew attend the service was thought to be a reflection of whether she considered it a family event or an official engagement, and how much she and royal aides were concerned that his presence could detract from the proceedings.
He attended Philip's funeral in April 2021.
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Many members of the Royal Family were in attendance at today's service, alongside Philip's friends, colleagues, and representatives from the organisations he supported.
Andrew was seen sitting next to his brother Prince Edward, who was with his wife Sophie and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Across an aisle on his right were Tim Laurence, Princess Anne, Camilla, Charles and the Queen.