Prince Andrew skewered over behaviour at funeral: 'Distinct chill'

Prince Andrew's appearance alongside other members of the Royal Family this week at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent did not leave a positive impression on the public. The King, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Firm joined the Duchess's family on Tuesday for a Catholic funeral at Westminster Cathedral in London.

But it was the Duke of York's appearance that raised eyebrows as he showed up with his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, and they stood next to the rest of the royals outside the church. According to reports, some members of the public "gasped" when he was seen exiting his car.

Mourners from inside the church have also given a chilling account of the atmosphere during the requiem mass.

One of them told The Times that his "jolly demeanour" created "a distinct chill in the air".

They said: "If he truly wanted to pay homage to her at her funeral, he should have had the common sense to drop in quietly."

Prince Andrew stepped down as a senior working royal in 2019 and is not attending royal engagements in an official capacity.

But he still attends some private family events with the rest of the royals, including the annual Christmas and Easter church services.

Last year, Andrew was absent from the royal gathering in Sandringham on Christmas Day due to his ties with an alleged Chinese spy banned from entering the UK.

The Duke's nephew, Prince William, appeared visibly distant from his uncle during the solemn event.

A moment that circulated widely online showed Andrew muttering a comment to the heir and laughing, while William remained stoic.

One source close to William said that that moment showed the prince delivering a "masterclass in trying to get away from someone".