How Prince William showed contempt for Andrew

Andrew has also been ordered by Charles to leave Royal Lodge, the Windsor mansion he shared with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, underscoring how isolated he has become.

One courtier said: “The decision to remove him from the Lodge was widely seen as a reflection of William’s position on how he should be treated.”

At the root of the friction is a long-standing personal rift, sparked by disparaging comments Andrew is alleged to have made about William’s wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, 43, early in the couple’s marriage.

A source said: ‘William laid down a firm rule years ago – there would be no indulgence in any misconduct linked to Andrew.

‘He knows that some of Andrew’s behavior stems from pure snobbery, because he always thought Catherine wasn’t posh enough to join the royal family.

“William’s response has been consistent since then: distance, silence and a clear message that the future of the monarchy will not be dragged into old scandals and that Andrew will now be kept as far away from the institution as possible.”