Prince William reportedly views his disgraced uncle as “a very troubled soul,” condemning his actions without hesitation. At the same time, he remains quietly concerned about the toll the fallout may be taking on his mental health.
The claim was made by Robert Hardman, who has written a new biography on the late Queen Elizabeth II titled “Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story.” In it, the author said that the Prince of Wales offered condolences to the former Prince Andrew after his royal titles were stripped.
“I think clearly there will be no coming back for Prince Andrew â ex-Prince Andrew â when William is king,” Hardman told Fox News Digital. “But at the same time, I still think that [William] is conscious that here is someone who is a very troubled soul and that at least the family does have to keep an eye on him.”
In October 2025, stripped Andrew of his royal titles as his younger brother faced renewed scrutiny over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The heightened criticism followed the release of Virginia Giuffres posthumous memoir and newly unsealed documents detailing Andrews relationship with Epstein.
“From time to time, there have been suggestions that [William] is a hardliner,” Hardman wrote. “Some accounts suggested that he was the driving force behind his uncle Andrew being stripped of his titles and honors and banished to a house on the Sandringham estate. One friend of the former Yorks, however, reported that on the night [Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson] lost their titles, Andrew had been very touched when Prince William was one of the few people to call to offer condolences.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital, “We dont comment on .”
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“I think what we realize from this is that William is … well, we know hes a thoughtful man,” Hardman explained. “Hes a very serious man. Hes very private, but we know hes particularly concerned about the whole issue of mental health, and thats something thats been a key strand of his work.”
“And I think he understood that his uncle Andrew may have behaved appallingly in many ways over many years,” said Hardman. “But at the same time, hes a member of the family. And here was someone who was being completely humiliated, publicly humiliated, degraded, disgraced, handed a punishment that no member of the family has had â to have all their titles taken away, to be effectively un-royal, de-royaled.”
Andrew has held the title of prince since birth.
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“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace previously announced. “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
It is almost unprecedented for a British prince or princess to be stripped of their royal title, The Associated Press reported. According to the outlet, it last happened in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus had his British title removed for during World War I. Hardman said that Andrew, like his ancestor, was viewed as “a traitor.”
“And that was clearly going to be very, very tough for him,” said Hardman. “And I think Prince William understood that.”
Mental health has been a key concern for William, heir to the British throne. According to the royal familys website,
