The only reason King Charles still answers Andrew’s calls

Insiders added that tensions have extended to personnel arrangements. Andrew is said to have insisted on a cook, housekeeper, gardener and butler, while Charles has instead offered more limited, shared access to Sandringham staff – a compromise insiders describe as another flashpoint in the ongoing negotiations.

The broader impact is felt by the entire family. Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are increasingly involved in the fallout, with both reportedly sidelined from major royal events and under scrutiny for their interactions with their father.

A source said: ‘Every time Andrew makes contact, Charles retreats into a situation he has tried very hard to distance himself from. It’s not something he can simply ignore or shut down, even if he would prefer, because there is a constant need to manage Andrew and monitor any consequences.

“This is an extremely delicate balancing act. Charles knows that cutting Andrew off entirely could escalate things, so he tries to contain the situation rather than inflame it. The trouble is that the more Andrew pushes – whether through demands about his accommodation or continued contact – the greater the risk this poses, not only to himself but to others connected to him. That’s what makes it so fraught, and why Charles is handling it so carefully in an attempt to maintain the stability of protect the broader institution.”