Prince Andrew has been spotted driving his Range Rover into Windsor Castle just hours before a Commonwealth Day service he is expected to miss – after appearing to position himself as the leader of the royal family at King Constantine’s commemoration .
The Duke of York was photographed riding around the Berkshire grounds this morning, ahead of his predicted absence from the Westminster Abbey event this afternoon.
Andrew, 64, is still out in the cold after being forced to step back from his royal duties following controversy over his former friendship with the late American financier and serial pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He appeared to be back in favor and smiling as he led the way as members of the royal family attended King Constantine’s commemoration in Windsor on February 27.
But Andrew, who also rode in Windsor today, is unlikely to attend the Commonwealth Day service as he is shirking royal duties.
The Duke of York was spotted driving his Range Rover in Windsor in Berkshire today
Andrew had led a group of royals at King Constantine’s memorial service on February 27
A body language expert previously described how Prince Andrew ‘positioned himself as leader of the royal family’ during King Constantine’s memorial service.
The Duke, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019, attended the St. George’s Chapel service with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and other family members – and was seen with a wide smile on his face as he led the way.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James Andrew gave a ‘bizarre’ display suggesting he wanted to ‘position himself in the role of leader’ of the British royal group.
She said: ‘Grinning like the Cheshire Cat at a memorial service where everyone else looks suitably solemn seems like an exaggerated performance ritual from Andrew, who appears to adopt the widest smile just as he walks into range of the cameras.’
‘Andrew was seen in a similar state of cheerfulness during his latest outing with the royal group and this sort of random-looking grin suggests a desire to appear carefree and resilient.’
That previous occasion was at Christmas, when he seemed as cheerful as when he went to church at Sandringham with his family.
Prince William unexpectedly missed the service for Constantine, the last king of Greece, for personal reasons.
Andrew was front and center for proceedings as King Charles took a break from his royal duties while battling cancer, while Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, were also absent.
Queen Camilla arrived separately, which meant Andrew – the second-born son of the late Queen Elizabeth II – stepped forward and led other royals, including Princess Anne.
A royal watcher told MailOnline at the time: ‘Prince Andrew and the Yorks are firmly back in the fold.’
And biographer and royal expert Phil Dampier suggested Andrew had seized his chance and was still clearly hopeful of a full comeback, with Fergie right behind him.
The Duke was also pictured driving around the Windsor Estate today
Andrew was joined at the service on February 27 by ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York
Behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall and Princess Anne
He said: ‘We have been reminded of the fragility of the situation and Andrew will probably be encouraged to think that he can one day make some sort of comeback, although this is unlikely to happen within a year or two, if ever ‘.
But he thought he would likely remain banned from today’s Commonwealth Day events attended by other royals, including this afternoon’s service in London.
Andrew had walked to church last Christmas Day with the king and the rest of the royal family, suggesting that he was gradually rehabilitated within the monarchy.
This followed his public appearance in his garter robe at Charles’ coronation last May.
Andrewwho has previously strongly denied the allegations against her, paid millions a year ago to settle a civil case out of court with Virginia Giuffre.
There was no guilty plea after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
Ms Giuffre, formerly Roberts, had claimed in a 2015 lawsuit that she was set up by Epstein to have sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was 17.
Later, in 2021, she filed a lawsuit against the prince over the alleged encounters.
The prince has strongly denied any wrongdoing and continues to do so.
But Andrew was mentioned more than 70 times in nearly a thousand pages of interviews and transcripts released in the US in January.
The duke, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019, attended the service at St. George’s Chapel for Greece’s last king on February 27
Prince Andrew, who has denied any wrongdoing, was previously pictured alongside Virginia Giuffre (centre), one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, and the now jailed Ghislaine Maxwell (right)
Billionaire financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in August 2019
The documents are part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit that Ms. Giuffre filed against Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for sex trafficking young girls for Epstein.
Andrew looked somber as he embarked on a solo ride around the Windsor Estate on February 24, three days before King Constantine’s memorial service.
But later that day he appeared in better spirits as he drove through Windsor, this time accompanied by a friend.
He stopped to chat with a group of dog walkers on The Long Mile before continuing towards Windsor Castle.
