Prince Andrew's appearance at Westminster Cathedral for the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, drew renewed scrutiny after a detailed second-by-second breakdown of the service published by the Daily Mail. The account, prepared with lip-reading notes, traces a sequence of moments that critics say reflected a lack of decorum in a time of mourning.
1:41 p.m.: The 65-year-old Duke of York steps from a police-escorted Range Rover onto the cathedral steps, unfazed by gasps from the crowd as he walks inside with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. He occupies a front-row place among other royals, alongside Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
3:38 p.m.: As mourners exit the Requiem Mass and the willow coffin is carried away, Fryer writes that Andrew is seen laughing with Ferguson, beginning a string of jokes that continued elsewhere among family members. 3:40 p.m.: Now Andrew edges toward the core group of royals, gently jostling, until he and his ex-wife are behind William and Kate. Ferguson does her best to engage them in jokey conversation. It is acutely uncomfortable to watch.
3:41 p.m.: Undeterred, Andrew now tries to insert himself centre stage alongside Prince William, but he is engaged in conversation with his father. 3:42 p.m.: Again, Andrew does not pick up on the body language. Or the fact that, as everyone knows, William has absolutely 'no time for his uncle'. Instead, Andrew turns to his nephew, and says: 'We had a lovely time didn't we then...' 3:42 p.m.: But recollections must vary, because William looks deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed. He gives a brief nod, rocks on his heels, blinks a lot and rubs his nose five times. After a pause, Andrew adds: 'And spending time with us...' William stares at his uncle, clenches his jaw and looks away.
3:43 p.m.: It seems even the tone-deaf duke can now feel the chill. His face is set and his eyes are darting. He looks genuinely worried. For a moment, anyway. 3:56 p.m.: He moves on to try his cheery chat on the King, who is said to be 'continually exasperated' with his younger brother and his scandals, but manages a brief smile before making a swift exit in his Bentley.
4 p.m.: But not before Kate—giving a masterclass in how to be a royal at a funeral—says goodbye to the King with a calm hand on his shoulder, a kiss on both cheeks and a perfect curtsy. 4:01 p.m.: Now Andrew pinballs like a needy child between family members. Next, he's grinning at the Duchess of Edinburgh, who manages a smile. 4:02 p.m.: Then he's on to Princess Anne, with whom he makes to leave. 'Let's walk this way,' says his sister. 'Shall we go that way and we can leave there,' he continues – until he realises Ferguson is still chatting with the Bishop. 'Where is she? Oh, over there – is she coming? Oh...' 4:03 p.m.: And so he's forced to wait for his ex-wife – alone, awkwardly fiddling with the tails of his morning suit. By now perhaps even Andrew has had enough – and is more than ready to head back under police escort to the safety of Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The detailing of the sequence has drawn reaction from commentators who describe the moment as tone-deaf and ill-timed for a funeral setting, even as some observers note the long-standing tensions around Andrew's place in the royal orbit. The account also references a broader dynamic within the Windsor family, including the King's supposed exasperation with his brother and the ongoing scrutiny of the duke's public rehabilitation.