ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor, the man formerly known as Prince but forever known as idiot, is struggling to come to terms with being a civilian.
So much so, sources say, he’s insisting his household staff refer to him as ‘Sir’ — and it’s gone down as well as one would expect.
“Andrew has lost his HRH, prince and duke titles and so staff, who didn’t know how to correctly address him, have been instructed that he is still to be called ‘Sir’ – at Andrew’s request!” a source told Radar Online.
“It is being framed as a demand from the King, but it is not.
“There is a perception among staff that this is someone who has lost his public role but is clinging to the trappings of status. Being addressed as ‘Sir’ may seem minor, but in this context it feels like an assertion of rank that no longer exists
“Morale among royal staff is now hugely fragile. Some staff were previously given the option to refuse to serve Andrew if they felt uncomfortable. Now they are being told to maintain formal modes of address. It has not gone unnoticed.”
Another palace source said, “The reduction of Andrew’s staff to a cook and a valet is a dramatic shift from the lifestyle he once had. But even within that downsizing, there is an expectation of deference. That contradiction is what many find difficult.”
Andrew was arrested on February 19 at Wood Farm in Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He is accused of forwarding confidential trade documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy.
The arrest followed a report to Thames Valley Police by anti-monarchy campaigner Graham Smith. If convicted, Andrew could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Hours after his release from Aylsham Police Station, he was photographed appearing distressed in the back seat of a vehicle as he attempted to avoid cameras.
In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, King Charles III said he learned of the news “with the deepest concern,” adding: “The law must take its course… It would not be right for me to comment further.”
