Moment Andrew was shunned by the Royals: An awkward exchange with William, an inappropriate grin and a joke at a funeral… the frosty atmosphere that says it all

Prince Andrew was visibly shunned by the Royal family after the Duchess of Kent’s funeral yesterday. 

While the Duke of York’s appearance was expected, it was clear that some – particularly Prince William, but also his brother the King – did not want to be seen publicly talking to him.

Andrew lingered awkwardly in the doorway of Westminster Cathedral as the rest of the party walked ahead to say their goodbyes. 

It comes amid ongoing revelations linked to Andrew’s relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, six years after the scandal saw the Duke forced to stand down from public duties. 

Historian Andrew Lownie’s forensic biography of Andrew, called Entitled, also caused shockwaves within the Royal Family – with some passages having to be removed for legal reasons, which the author said were enough to bring down the monarchy. 

At one point yesterday Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York leant forwards to speak to William, who turned briefly to talk to her, as did his wife Kate.

But it was clear the couple were far from keen to prolong the conversation, aside from pleasantries.

Indeed, for much of the time, the heir to the throne, jaw clenched, appeared decidedly uncomfortable.

At one point, Prince Andrew tried jovially to engage his nephew in conversation. William glanced at him and then studiously looked forward, thin-lipped, rubbing his nose and rocking on his heels.

Lip reader Jacqui Press told the Daily Mail of the conversations that Andrew engaged in after the service, which, she claimed, included pleasantries, such as ‘It was a beautiful service’ and ‘Aren’t we lucky with the weather today’. 

The Waleses made a notably quick exit after the King had got into the State Bentley, but not before His Majesty appeared to offer a few warm words to his daughter-in-law, who smiled and walked over, before kissing him on each cheek and curtsying.

As the King drove off, the Duchess of York was seen waving somewhat over-enthusiastically at his car, before also dropping a neat bob.

Prince Andrew, meanwhile, exchanged some words with his sister, Princess Anne, thanked staff and headed off towards his car.

According to the lip reader, the Princess Royal told her brother, ‘Let’s walk this way’. Andrew later turned to Anne and said, ‘Shall [we] go that way and we can leave there?’ He later questioned, ‘Where is she? Oh, over there, is she coming?’

Elsewhere, he thanked the priests and later turned to a different attendee before questioning whether they had been introduced before, Press said.

He was forced to wait at the side of the building, fiddling with the tails of his morning coat, as his ex-wife continued to chat merrily on the steps.

It comes after a a body language expert claimed Prince Andrew and Prince William had a ‘very frosty’ exchange after the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday.

The disgraced Duke of York tried to engage in conversation with his nephew after the pair paid tribute to Katharine Kent in a service at Westminster Cathedral.

Andrew could be seen muttering a few words to William, who appears to decline to engage in the conversation and only gives a brief nod in response. 

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Prince William’s ‘non-verbal responses’ suggest a degree of ‘awkwardness’ between the pair. 

She also described the expression on Prince Andrew’s face as he tried to chat to his nephew as a ‘smug-looking smile’. 

The Duke was given a prominent seat in the front row as he joined other members of the Royal Family for the private memorial for the wife of the late Queen’s cousin. 

Katharine, the wife of the late Queen’s cousin the Duke of Kent, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on the evening of September 4 aged 92.

Ms James said: ‘The Duke of York tries to engage his nephew in a good-humoured chat and all William’s non-verbal responses suggest awkwardness and a subliminal desire to reject the overtures, making this look like a very frosty transaction.

‘Andrew turns his head fully towards William to not only get his attention but seeming to want to coax a mirrored response that shows he has his attention, too. 

‘When he turns his face to the front he is wearing a smug-looking smile and he even turns back as though trying to gain a mirrored response from William.’ 

Ms James explained that the Prince of Wales uses a series of body language signals to suggest a lack of desire to communicate with his uncle. 

‘Firstly, he barely inclines his head in Andrew’s direction and then he seems to avoid eye contact, looking down or away,’ she said. 

‘There is the very exaggerated and prolonged rubbing of his nose with his fist to form a barrier to his mouth with this ‘act of distraction’. 

‘Lastly, there is a rising up then banging down onto his heels, which will often signal ‘subject closed’.

‘William is at some pains to appear polite despite potentially feeling compromised here, but he is clearly made uncomfortable and is perhaps relieved when he can return to the more solemn facial expression of mourning.’ 

Meanwhile, separate footage shows Prince Andrew sharing a joke with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at the funeral. 

He also broke into laughter while standing next to Prince William, who looked visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Andrew stepped down as a working royal over the scandal involving his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but he still attends private family events.

The King, Prince William, Kate, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne were also among those paying tribute at the Catholic service at Westminster Cathedral.

The Duke of Kent followed closely behind his late wife’s coffin after the funeral as it was slowly carried outside and watched while it was placed inside the royal hearse.

Earlier, the Duke had entered the cathedral holding a walking stick in poignant scenes, surrounded by his family including his daughter Lady Helen Taylor.

But Buckingham Palace announced just two hours before the private family service began that Queen Camilla had pulled out as she recovers from acute sinusitis.

Among the other royals attending were Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence , the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson .

The Duke of Kent’s brother, Prince Michael of Kent, appeared frail and walked slowly using a stick as he made his way into the church for the funeral. 

He was accompanied by his wife Princess Michael of Kent, who was also using a stick.

With them was their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor, and they led a large contingent of royals all dressed in black in mourning, including Lord Frederick Windsor and Lady Sophie Windsor, with some of the party arriving together by bus.

Lady Helen Windsor, wearing a hat with tulle detail, joined her father, the Duke of Kent, followed by her brothers the Earl of St Andrews and Lord Nicholas Windsor.  

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said the guests were very moved by ‘the quietness and the grandeur combined together’ of the service.

He said: ‘The richness of the music, which was exceptional, but there were periods that were very quiet, very prayerful. 

‘And that combination…in a way reflected Lady Katharine’s life. Which was very quiet and very shy in many ways and yet [also combined] tremendous public service without ever seeking attention for herself.

‘She was a down to earth Yorkshire woman who knew how to serve and be part of the Royal Family without ever losing that care for people who were worse off and in difficulties. I think she expressed very well the kindness that is a good fruit of the Christian faith.

‘This was the first royal funeral celebrated in a Catholic Church for probably 300 years and the first time His Majesty has attended Mass in the cathedral.

‘I remember her very clearly being on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. She chose to work in a hospital with the most needy people, but also to have lots of fun as when you go to Lourdes it is a place of great spirit. 

‘I remember her sitting there outside having an ice cream, chatting to people going by. That’s where we saw that side of her, as well as the side that really wanted to serve and be helpful.

‘When we come to stand before God we will be judged on our kindness and she was a brimful of kindness and empathy. ‘

He also recalled the memorable Wimbledon final in which she comforted loser Jana Novotna.

‘I think that was a moment that captures her kindness and sensitivity but that was repeated many, many times in private,’ he said.

The service was conducted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales.

Personal elements of the ceremony included the participation of three of the Duchess’s grandchildren – Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Eloise Taylor and Albert Windsor – who read the Prayer of the Faithful.

The requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, is the first to be held for a member of the monarchy in modern British history and featured a Scottish bagpipe lament performed during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral at Windsor Castle in 2022.

A piper from The Royal Dragoon Guards played the lament – Sleep, Dearie, Sleep – while processing from the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, past the Duchess’s coffin in the Nave and down the cathedral’s central aisle.

The late Queen’s funeral service in St George’s Chapel ended with a piper playing the same tune.

The choir and organist of Westminster Cathedral provided choral music, composed by Maurice Durufle.

The music included Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, selected by the Duchess as her favourite piece when she was on Desert Island Discs in 1990.