Prince Andrew's ill-judged funeral appearance draws scrutiny at Westminster Cathedral

Prince Andrew's appearance at Westminster Cathedral during the service for Katharine, Duchess of Kent, drew immediate attention and sparked a wave of commentary about royal conduct at funerals. Observers parsed a sequence of moments that some described as ill-judged or awkward, with particular focus on the duke's interactions with members of the royal family and mourners alike. A Daily Mail timeline, attributed to lip-reading analysis by journalist Jane Fryer, lays out the sequence second by second.

At 1:41 p.m., the Duke of York, 65, emerged from a police-escorted Range Rover and walked briskly up the cathedral steps alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, with whom he continues to live at Windsor. He occupied a front-row seat in a prominent royal position, flanked by Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

By 3:38 p.m., as the royals exited the emotional Requiem Mass and the Duchess of Kent's willow coffin was carried toward the hearse, Andrew was seen chuckling in the sun with Ferguson — the first of many jokes he would try to share with mourners, according to the report.

At 3:40 p.m., Andrew edged toward the core group of royals, gently jostling, until he and Ferguson found themselves behind William and Kate. Ferguson did her best to engage the group in lighthearted conversation, but the moment was described as acutely uncomfortable by observers who watched the tensions play out in real time.

Undeterred, at 3:41 p.m. Andrew again attempted to insert himself center stage alongside Prince William, but he found himself in dialogue with his father instead.

At 3:42 p.m., according to the account, Andrew tried to draw William into conversation with the line, “We had a lovely time didn’t we then…” William’s response was a brief nod, followed by a look of strain as he turned away. The duke pressed on, while William’s body language grew more restrained.

The moment captured what many described as a palpable chill: Andrew’s attempts to reconnect with the core royal circle met with wary or muted responses from members of the Queen’s grandson’s generation.

At 3:43 p.m., the analysis notes the duke’s expression shifting to one of genuine concern, his gaze darting as if sensing the widening gap between his own mood and the mood of the family and mourners around him.

Around 3:56 p.m., Andrew moved toward the King, who was said to be exasperated by his younger brother’s ongoing scandals but managed a brief, dutiful smile before departing in his Bentley.

At 4:00 p.m., Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, offered a measured farewell to the King — a calm hand on his shoulder, a kiss on both cheeks, and a poised curtsy, widely cited as a model of royal conduct at a funeral.

By 4:01 p.m., Andrew appeared to glide between family members, grinning toward the Duchess of Edinburgh before shifting to Princess Anne. The report notes an exchange in which Anne suggested a direction for departure, while Andrew briefly hummed with Ferguson still engaged in conversation with a bishop.

At 4:03 p.m., the moment arrived where Andrew was forced to wait for Ferguson, who remained in conversation with a church official. He stood aside, seemingly awaiting her cue as the cortege prepared to depart from Westminster Cathedral.

The service, which was attended by the royal family and dignitaries, concluded with the duke’s withdrawal back to his police escort and a return to Windsor. The sequence has reignited questions about Prince Andrew’s role within the royal household and how his behavior at high-profile events is perceived by the public.

Reaction to the service and the unfolding moments was swift in UK media and among observers outside the monarchy, with commentators calling the events a reminder of the broader challenges facing the royal family as it navigates public sentiment and accountability. The day’s narrative underscored the enduring sensitivity surrounding how royals conduct themselves in moments of national mourning, and it highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of Andrew’s place within the established line of royal duty.