Prince Andrew may not be the recluse that he is so often made out to be at the moment, although his 65th birthday on the horizon is still expected to be an understated affair.
He knew that by all odds, this birthday would be marked by the usual pomp-a lavish birthday celebration at Windsor Castle organized by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, bells ringing at Westminster Abbey, and a host of celebrities friends attending to add to the festive atmosphere.
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But this year’s celebrations will be rather modest in observance of his decline in status.
The venue’s exact whereabouts are known only to the ever-decreasing number of people who are prepared to profess their support for him in public.
“There’s going to be a small party at Royal Lodge, the Duke of York’s 30-room home in Windsor,” Andrew Lownie, author of a tome he’s devoted the past several years to researching, a book about the King’s brother, and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, added.
Lownie, who discusses the dodgy deals of Andrew and co – including a suspected Chinese spy presently banned from the UK – examines this year’s birthday on February 19 in reference to the Duke’s 60th celebration. “I doubt the Chinese ambassador will attend this time,” he said, his voice tinged with irony. She finds that the much-maligned Duke is actually rather pleasant to have around.
I have enjoyed observing how he navigates his relationship not just with his ex-wife but also with his daughters and grandchildren.
“He’s a great guy, if you ask me. My own experience, of course.
He is going to get the rank of Admiral on his 60th birthday as per the royal tradition, wherein members of the royal family, if ever they have taken up military duties, would automatically assume higher ranks on important birthdays as if they were still serving.
He was promoted in the end only for it to be taken away, as were Lady engagements in his honor, leaving him with a smaller celebration at Royal Lodge.
Andrew was proud of his service in the Navy and had been doing his best to keep his spirits up even now, when no promotion was coming his way, especially after the Helicopter pilot role he played during the Falklands戦争.
He announced through the palace that he was asking for a delay until three months ago, when he had “temporarily” stood aside from some frontline duties after a strong public outcry following his Newsnight interview, where he attempted to defend his relations with the convicted sex offender financier, Jeffrey Epstein.
Lownie, however, is of the opinion that the Queen had an even greater honor in mind for her favorite son until the Epstein scandal put paid to his future as a senior royal.
He believes she wanted to install him in the Order of Merit, arguably one of the most elite clubs in the world.
“I basically figured this out while writing,” said the writer.
Members of the society which honors exceptional service to arts, education, literature, and science “or any other distinguished service deemed worthy of recognition” are limited to 24 Commonwealth individuals under a British-monarchy head of state, with additional non-Commonwealth foreign honorary members including Commonwealth republics.
Established by Edward VII in 1902, it provides for admission at the sole discretion of the ruling monarch.
Andrew would have joined a distinguished group of notable figures, including Sir Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Hardy, T.S. Eliot, and Graham Greene, to name but a few along with the blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman with two British actors, one a comic genius and the other an interpreter of Shakespeare’s roles; famous scientists; poets; singers; and painters. Two more members of the Royal Family had been admitted to the order earlier: Prince Philip in 1968 and the present Prince Charles in 2002.
This week, Fabulous approached Buckingham Palace for a comment on the suggestion that the late Queen might have also thought of Andrew for the honor. They had no comment but it was not to be.
Instead, Andrew had been ostracized, not even asked to join his family for Christmas in Sandringham last year, and had turned into the center of a relentless line of unfavorable stories concerning his finances and his connection with Epstein, who was found hanged in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking.
The palace declined comment on whether the King or any other relative would be joining Andrew for his birthday celebration.
While Andrew is said to have disagreed with the decision not to cover his £3 million security costs and £1 million living costs at Royal Lodge, there appears to be a healthy relationship between him and his brother as he has remained loyal to him.
He also keeps in honor the most distinguished company of British and foreign financiers, the famous brothers Guy and Ben Sangster, Formula 1 magnate Bernie Ecclestone, and pop stars Sir Elton John and Michael Caine.
In fact, Andrew is still visiting London on certain business, and is often spotted hanging out at Harry's Bar or having lunch with friends at this upscale hotel located in Ascot in close proximity to his residence in Windsor: Coworth Park.
