Prince Andrew beamed today as he walked front and center alongside Princess Anne and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to attend Easter Sunday service in Windsor.
The Duke of York put on a brave face at St George’s Chapel just days before the release of the Netflix film Scoop, which will explore the Royal Family’s Newsnight car crash interview about his relationship with pedophile Jeffery Epstein.
Shortly after their arrival, King Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, arrived by car with his wife Queen Camilla, marking his most important public appearance since his diagnosis.
The 75-year-old monarch appeared in good spirits and greeted well-wishers in a bid to allay public fears after a turbulent few weeks in which the Princess of Wales, 42, was also diagnosed with cancer.
In recent weeks, the reality of a downsized monarchy has been laid bare. The king paused his public duties in February, while Kate also took a step back due to her abdominal surgery and subsequent diagnosis.
Prince William is also taking some time away from the royal spotlight as he spends private time with his wife and three children their country home Amner Hall, where they can ‘shut off from the world and move on’.
Today’s event proved to onlookers that the Duke of York is back in the royal fold and will no longer shy away from the public spotlight at a time when fewer senior royals are in attendance.
It marks an extraordinary turnaround just two years after his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, banned him from royal duties and stripped him of both his HRH and military titles.
Prince Andrew beamed today as he walked front and center alongside senior royals as he attended the Easter Sunday service in Windsor
The Duke of York walked into St George’s Chapel with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and his sister Princess Anne
King Charles attended the service, marking his first major public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer in February
The extraordinary move came after Andrew settled a sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, a sex slave victim of Andrew’s close friend Jeffrey Epstein.
Today, Prince Andrew was seen grinning alongside his relatives as they shook hands and spoke to the clergy.
It comes just days before the new Netflix film will be a repeat of what is widely regarded as the most disastrous interview in royal history, which saw Emily Maitilis test the duke.
The appearance – which would have been unheard of two years ago – comes just weeks after the Duke walked the royal family into Windsor Castle for a thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece.
King Charles was unable to attend the event as he continues to battle cancer, while Prince William had to leave the service at the last minute for ‘personal reasons’.
It was later reconfirmed that the heir had suddenly left service when Kate had started her preventive chemotherapy treatment, described as a ‘recovery course’.
Queen Camilla took the reins at the event, but arrived separately and led Queen Elizabeth’s second-born son forward to engage the smaller royals – such as Princess Anne, her daughter Zara and husband Mike Tindall.
And in another incredible turn of events, his ex-wife was once again at his side as they marched into St George’s Chapel, followed by their daughter Beatrice.
Biographer and royal expert Phil Dampier told MailOnline earlier this month that Andrew had seized his chance and is still clearly hoping he can make a full comeback, with Fergie hot on his heels.
Prince Andrew was seen joining senior members of the royal family at a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece last month
Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York smiled as they arrived at St George’s Chapel last month
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 ‘.
Andrew’s appearance at the monument to the late Greek monarch was the first time he had been seen at a public event since the Christmas Day service at Sandringham.
It took almost two years for his settlement with Ms Giuffre to be announced – estimated to be worth around £12 million ($16.3 million).
This saved him from having to testify under oath at any trial in the US, and it was claimed that the Queen helped him pay for that.
