A former royal valet has offered a rare glimpse into the simmering tensions between King Charles III and his younger brother, Prince Andrew.
Grant Harrold, who once worked as a butler for Charles, told LadBible he never saw a close bond between the siblings and believes the King sensed trouble long before action was taken.
Andrew lost several royal styles late in 2025: the HRH prefix, his use of 'Prince' and the Dukedom of York were stripped, and Buckingham Palace announced on October 30, 2025 that he would be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Harrold suggested the royal household had advance warning of problems and that Charles’ decision to remove titles was a deliberate, premeditated step rather than a sudden reaction.
The former valet also painted a picture of the King as courteous and warm toward staff, with a playful streak and a fondness for practical jokes.
Outside voices have argued the rift between the brothers is unlikely to heal.
Reports from HELLO! said the estrangement has deepened to the point that public appearances together are improbable going forward.
Biographer Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, told the magazine the antipathy goes back years and may not be linked only to Andrew’s later controversies.
He argued both men harboured grievances — Andrew felt held back, Charles felt rules had been unevenly applied.
With relations described as fractured, some observers say Andrew may even be absent from key family milestones in the future, underscoring how far the brothers have drifted.
