Both Famous for Their Tempers

King Charles’ desire to streamline the monarchy isn’t a recent decision; it’s something he has considered for many years.

Christopher Andersen, the author of The King, claims that King Charles wanted to reshape the monarchy as far back as 2008. Among those considered for possible demotion back then were Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson‘s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Predictably, the Duke of York was not pleased and swiftly made his feelings known to his older brother.

A demotion for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie would involve stripping them of their Her Royal Highness titles—similar to what happened to Prince Harry when he and Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals. Their father, Prince Andrew, also lost his HRH title following the Virginia Giuffre sexual assault allegations and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Charles floated the idea that several Windsor offspring be demoted, stripped of their HRH standing, have their royal protection taken away, and, most revolutionary of all, kicked off the royal payroll,” Andersen told Fox News Digital, before elaborating on Prince Andrew’s reaction.

According to Andersen, Prince Andrew was furious about these proposals, which would have required his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, to earn their own living and be downgraded from “Princess” to “Lady.” This led to a heated argument between him and Charles. “By all accounts, it was a literal battle Royale, a desk-pounding shouting match between the two brothers, both known for their volatile tempers,” Andersen said. He continued, noting that this was years before the Epstein scandal forced King Charles to distance Andrew from the royal spotlight.

Just as Prince William and Prince Harry have had their differences, it appears King Charles and Prince Andrew didn’t have the smoothest relationship growing up. Andersen also discussed this dynamic. “The King and Prince Andrew have always had a strained relationship,” he said. “The Queen lavished attention on both Andrew and the youngest brother, Edward. Their father, Prince Philip, doted on Anne. They were often described as ‘two peas in a pod.’ But as the oldest and heir to the throne, Charles was left out in the cold, emotionally abandoned by his parents.”

“Charles was 11 when Andrew was born, and the King has resented his younger brother ever since,” Andersen added.