Shocking Allegation Emerges About Prince Andrew's Palace Conduct
In a startling new revelation, royal biographer Robert Hardman has claimed that Prince Andrew, during his tenure as Trade Envoy, allegedly struck the Master of the Royal Household after being refused permission to use a room in Buckingham Palace for a charity event. The incident, described as "appalling" by Hardman, was reportedly so serious that Prince Philip felt compelled to write an apology letter on his son's behalf.
Details of the Palace Altercation
Speaking on a special episode of the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, Hardman detailed the confrontation between the former prince and Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt. According to the biographer, Andrew wanted to host an event for his Pitch at the Palace charity and demanded a specific room. When Sir Tony explained that all rooms were fully booked but he would try to accommodate the request, Andrew allegedly refused to take no for an answer, culminating in physical violence.
"There's this appalling moment where he actually punched the Master of the Royal Household," Hardman stated. "It's an extraordinary story that I go into in some detail in the book. It would be court martial stuff in the Royal Navy."
Royal Family's Response and Aftermath
Hardman claimed that news of the embarrassing altercation quickly moved up the chain of command, eventually reaching the Lord Chamberlain, Prince Philip, and Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was reportedly "not remotely surprised" upon hearing about the incident. While Prince Philip wrote a formal apology to Sir Tony, Andrew's own apology was described as "very mealy mouthed, not quite apology."
Interestingly, Hardman noted that not long after the incident, Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt received a knighthood, suggesting where the Queen's sympathies may have lain. Sir Tony remains a popular figure in Palace circles and continues to serve as Master of the Household under King Charles III.
Broader Pattern of Behavior
This story is just one of many revelations about Andrew from Hardman's new book, Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, published to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth. The biographer rejected claims that the late Queen shielded Andrew from consequences but admitted she viewed him as her most "vulnerable" child and treated him differently from his siblings.
"He was not as bright as the others, he could be boorish and everyone knew that," Hardman said of Andrew. "All the other members of the family knew the boundaries, they knew what they were supposed to do and what they shouldn't."
Additional Incidents and Future Revelations
Hardman shared other examples of Andrew's behavior, including instances where he would "upset people, say the wrong thing, cross a line" at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos. The biographer recounted another incident where Andrew allegedly performed a handbrake turn in the Buckingham Palace Quadrangle during an investiture ceremony, sending gravel flying and disrupting the special day for attendees.
"There are ample stories of him just throwing his weight around," Hardman added. "We will start to discover more about other government departments, other Palace departments, who maybe should have acted sooner."
Hardman predicted that more embarrassing details about Andrew's conduct as Trade Envoy are likely to emerge over time. He suggested that the Queen's treatment of her son represents one of the few things the monarch "got wrong" during her historic 70-year reign, though he emphasized that "she got a lot more right."
The full interview with Robert Hardman is available on the Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast series, which explores the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II through previously untold stories and insider perspectives.
