Prince Andrew was photographed grinning while riding in Windsor Great Park on Saturday, days after critics questioned his demeanour at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral. The 65-year-old duke had joined King Charles III, Princess Anne, and the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. Queen Camilla did not attend the service, pulling out two hours before it began as she recovers from acute sinusitis. Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was also in attendance.
Footage from the funeral showed Andrew sharing a joke with Sarah Ferguson and breaking into laughter while standing beside Prince William, who appeared visibly uncomfortable. The Telegraph described the ceremony as marred by his presence, noting that some mourners outside gasped as his car arrived and that the mood could be described as creating a "distinct chill in the air".
Body language expert Judi James analyzed the exchange between Andrew and William as awkward. She said William’s non-verbal responses suggested a degree of reluctance to engage with his uncle, while Andrew’s emphasis on conversation appeared to be accompanied by a "smug-looking smile" as he attempted to draw a mirrored reaction.
James described William as signaling politeness while clearly feeling uncomfortable, noting a sequence of cues such as a minimal head incline toward Andrew, avoidance of eye contact, and a gesture described as rubbing the nose with a fist to form a barrier to the mouth. She added that William’s posture and expressions suggested a wish to return to a more solemn mood rather than engage in easy banter with his uncle.
Lip reader Jacqui Press told the Daily Mail that conversations Andrew had after the service with other attendees largely consisted of pleasantries, including lines such as "It was a beautiful service" and "Aren’t we lucky with the weather today." The Waleses’ exit from Westminster Abbey after the service was swift, with some analysis focusing on the tension surrounding the family gathering.
The episode comes amid ongoing coverage of Andrew’s ties to the financier Jeffrey Epstein and scrutiny over his role in public life. The duke stepped back from official duties years ago but continues to attend private family events.
Public interest in Andrew’s appearance at high-profile family occasions persists despite the palace’s framing of these events as private family moments. On Friday, he was seen in a Range Rover, believed to be heading toward Windsor Great Park for another horse ride, signaling that he remains a visible, if contentious, member of the extended royal circle.