Prince William was "furious" after being confronted by the presence of his uncle, Prince Andrew, at the state funeral for the Duchess of Kent, royal biographer Andrew Lownie wrote, citing friends who described an awkward encounter and a personal rift that stretches back to William's courtship of Catherine, now the Princess of Wales.
Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said friends told him the heir to the throne attempted to ignore Andrew as the pair stood near one another at Westminster Abbey, and that members of the public audibly reacted when Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, arrived. Lownie wrote that William saw Andrew's attendance as a distraction from the solemn occasion and as further reputational damage to the monarchy.
The funeral for the Duchess of Kent brought into sharp relief tensions within the royal family that have been amplified by reporting about Andrew's past association with financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lownie noted that many expected Andrew to keep a low profile amid renewed media attention and calls from lawyers and victims for further investigation into allegations that Andrew has repeatedly denied.
Several senior royals were not present at the service, including Queen Camilla, who Lownie said had sinusitis, and Prince Edward, who was on official duties overseas. Lownie described Andrew and Sarah Ferguson as determined to remain visible at family events despite the discomfort their presence can cause other members of the family.
Friends quoted by Lownie told him the dispute between William and Andrew includes a long-standing "personal" element, which the biographer wrote stems from Andrew’s reportedly cold treatment of Catherine when William was dating her. Lownie said William has sought to distance himself from his uncle in public appearances and resents what he regards as insufficient action by King Charles to discipline Andrew.
King Charles is portrayed by Lownie as caught between including family members and protecting the monarchy's public standing. Lownie wrote that the king engaged in polite conversation with Andrew and the duchess at the service, even as other family members appeared uneasy.
The episode comes as the palace continues to manage fallout from reporting about Epstein-linked documents and as the monarchy prepares for high-profile diplomatic engagements. Lownie also highlighted ongoing disputes over Royal Lodge, Andrew's former official residence in Windsor Great Park, and noted criticism of Andrew for retaining ties to roles and privileges that some view as incompatible with his controversial public profile.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct. The palace typically does not comment on private family disputes and has not publicly addressed every claim reported in recent weeks. Lownie's account draws on interviews and material in his book and represents his perspective and the recollections of sources he identified.
It remains unclear how the reported tensions will affect future public duties and family arrangements. Lownie's book, published by HarperCollins, positions the Yorks' efforts to remain within the royal fold as central to their public behaviour and suggests the king and other senior royals face difficult choices in balancing family unity with wider institutional concerns.