Prince Andrew’s banner bearing his coat of arms has been removed from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, marking a symbolic blow to the disgraced royal’s standing within the Order of the Garter.
The flag, which once hung beside Prince William’s, had been on display since 2006, when Andrew was made a Knight of the Order, one of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious chivalric honours, founded in the 14th century. Photographs taken last weekend showed the banner still in place, but by Wednesday, it had been taken down, leaving a visible gap where it once hung.
The removal of such a display is rare and typically reserved for instances of high treason or rebellion against the Crown. While the 65-year-old Duke of York has not been formally stripped of his knighthood, he agreed to relinquish the use of his Duke of York title and step back from public royal duties following the fallout from his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Sources said the banner’s removal was carried out “at the most convenient moment,” signalling a quiet but deliberate move by the royal household to further distance the monarchy from Andrew’s controversies.
The design of Andrew’s banner included the three lions of England, the harp of Ireland, and Scotland’s lion rampant, with an anchor symbolising his naval career. The emblem was modelled after those once used by Kings George V and VI when they held the title Duke of York.
Andrew’s continued membership in the Order of the Garter has long angered royal insiders, given his links to Epstein and his £12 million settlement with s3x abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre. Although he has not attended the Order’s public ceremonies since 2019, he has continued to participate in its private annual luncheon.
