Prince Andrew’s personal banner, bearing his coat of arms, has been removed from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle — a gesture widely viewed as a symbolic blow to the disgraced royal’s standing within the Order of the Garter.
The banner, which once hung beside that of Prince William, had been displayed since 2006 when Andrew was appointed a Knight of the Order — one of Britain’s most historic and esteemed chivalric orders, established in the 14th century. Photographs taken over the weekend showed the banner still in place, but by Wednesday, it had quietly vanished, leaving an empty space where it once hung.
The removal of such insignia is extremely rare and typically reserved for cases of treason or rebellion against the Crown. Although the 65-year-old Duke of York has not been formally stripped of his knighthood, he previously agreed to cease using his Duke of York title and to withdraw from public royal duties following the fallout from his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal sources described the banner’s removal as having been carried out “at the most convenient moment,” suggesting a discreet yet deliberate effort by the royal household to further distance the monarchy from Andrew’s ongoing controversies.
The design of the banner featured the three lions of England, the Irish harp, and Scotland’s lion rampant, along with an anchor representing Andrew’s naval career. The emblem was modelled on those once used by Kings George V and VI when they held the Duke of York title.
Andrew’s continued membership in the Order of the Garter has long caused unease within royal circles, particularly due to his connection to Epstein and the reported £12 million settlement paid to his sexual abuse accuser, Virginia Giuffre. Though absent from public Garter ceremonies since 2019, he has continued to attend the Order’s private annual luncheons.
St George’s Chapel carries deep personal significance for Andrew, as it was the site of both his parents’ funerals — Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and Prince Philip in 2021.
Since the Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III in 1348, forty knights have been expelled in disgrace. Traditionally, their banners were torn down inside the chapel and ceremoniously kicked outside into a ditch by royal heralds — a dramatic act symbolising ultimate dishonour.
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