King Charles 'allows Prince Andrew to keep special honour despite invisible request'

King Charles has reportedly allowed Prince Andrew to keep his major role hosting royal shooting parties, despite allegedly ousting his younger brother from the royal family’s Christmas plans.

Despite finding himself embroiled in dozens of scandals over the years as a result of his connection to the billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it is believed the monarch is still allowing his younger brother to host shooting parties at royal estates.

Many believe that the King ’s decision is because while he wants to distance himself from both Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in public, he does not want to antagonise them behind closed doors.

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This is also believed to be the reason why Andrew still has the same shooting privileges now as he has had since his younger years, which is to host the parties. This includes hosting his “family day” at Windsor, which is typically held shortly after the pheasant shooting season starts in November.

The Daily Beast reported that Andrew will still play such a role at the shooting parties, despite being stripped of his HRH status and various military accolades in January 2022.

It is believed such shooting parties are vital for social connections, with the parties taking place across vast estates.

Talking about the Duke of York holding onto his role with such parties, royal biographer Andrew Lownie told the publication: “ King Charles does not want to antagonise his younger brother entirely but he needs to recognise that the public want some answers about the Yorks’ connections with Jeffrey Epstein and how they have exploited their royal status for personal financial gain.”

While Andrew may have kept his right to host such “parties”, he is believed to be set for a future even further out of the spotlight. In the wake of Fergie’s 2011 email to Epstein resurfacing, the King has signalled for both Andrew and his ex-wife to take an "out of sight, out of mind" approach for any future family occasions.

The King has reportedly also made clear that he would prefer the couple, who divorced in 1996, to be "invisible" at future family occasions that they are invited to, by arriving and leaving through discreet entrances where possible.

The source told the Sunday Times: "You can't sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best."

The decision is being believed to have been supported by the Prince of Wales, who is understood to be frustrated and concerned by the Yorks' behaviour causing long-term reputational risk to the royals.