Stony-Faced Prince Andrew Is Booed By Crowds As He Emerges From Buckingham Palace

Prince Andrew was today dressed in formal Order of the Garter robes as he watched the historic moment his brother was crowned King at Westminster Abbey – despite having no formal role in the coronation.

The Duke of York wore his Garter robes but will play no part in the ceremony or procession behind the Gold State Coach that will carry the newly crowned King and Queen to the Palace. 

Andrew stepped back from royal duties after his car crash Newsnight interview and the furor over his friendship with pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. 

But his attire today reflected an apparent softening of the royal family’s stance towards him – after he was banned by the late Queen from wearing the robes in public for her last Garter Day at Windsor Castle.

The Duke of York, 63, and Duke of Sussex, 38, were today mere spectators to the historic occasion given that they are no longer working royals, but while Andrew is wearing Garter robes, Prince Harry appeared wearing a suit.

Earlier a stony-faced Andrew was pictured leaving Buckingham Palace and driving down The Mall in a state car. But some of the crowd in a grandstand booed as he went past.

The Mirror reported that they were informed by the Palace two weeks ago that Andrew would not be in Garter robes. 

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain.

According to the royal family website, in medieval times King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter.

Today, the order includes the King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, “several senior members of the royal family, and 24 knights chosen in recognition of their work”, according to the website.

The Order of the Garter robes are made of dark blue velvet and can be accompanied by a cap.

The robe has a white satin lining, white silk bows on the shoulders, an attached red velvet hood and tasseled cordons.

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry will also miss on stepping out onto the balcony at the Palace for a traditional photo op following the service. 

Andrew joined his children, the Tindalls, Princess Anne and her husband, the Kents and the Wessexes at Mayfair club Oswald’s for a dinner last night – but there was no sign of the ‘outcast’ Prince Harry.

Yesterday the Prince appeared left out in the cold as he took a solo drive around the grounds of Windsor Castle while the rest of the royals practiced for the Coronation.