The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on his 66th birthday over allegations of misconduct in public office last week set off a ticking time bomb at the heart of the royal family. But the following days saw senior members of The Firm do what they do best – "keep calm and carry on".
Just hours after his brother's arrest, King Charles made his front-row debut at London Fashion Week, appearing not to show the strain of the day's events as he chatted to designers and fashion industry figures. The Queen was seen at an arts organisation in Westminster, while Princess Anne had the busiest schedule of all, completing a series of engagements in the south of Yorkshire.
Over the weekend, the Princess of Wales made a rare set of two consecutive appearances, attending the rugby at Twickenham on Saturday and the BAFTA awards with Prince William on Sunday.
Speaking to HELLO!, royal expert Phil Dampier explained that such a string of high-profile outings "helped project the image of business as normal".
Keep Calm and Carry On motto
"It helps to show that the show is carrying on, keep calm and carry on," Phil said.
"The days of 'Never complain, never explain,' have clearly gone. They can't just bury their heads in the sand and say we've got nothing to say about this. They're showing that The Firm is still working so Andrew is almost portrayed as one bad apple, so to speak."
"Never complain, never explain," as Phil describes, was once seen as the royal family's long-standing PR strategy – emphasising silence and unity over speaking out, particularly during times of turmoil.
© Getty ImagesBut last week, the King said he had learned with the "deepest concern" of his brother's arrest in a statement, which is understood to have been supported by the Prince and Princess of Wales. "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all," the statement read, making for an open response to the situation.
Phil added that it's likely the consecutive royal events had been "probably planned anyway", likely months in advance, but nevertheless saw the family put on a united front during a tense and difficult week.
© Getty ImagesHowever, brand and culture expert Nick Ede told HELLO! that their appearances will have been "planned in advance very carefully", especially with "all eyes on the UK".
When it comes to Kate and William, he added: "They have always been at the heart of cultural moments and they know that they have a duty to the country to show up and stay quiet. I think that we won't see them shy away from their responsibilities and most likely we will see them doing more 'PR-able' moments to build positive brand equity and headlines too."
What should the royal family do next?
Former Prince Andrew was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
This week, police searches are continuing at Andrew's previous home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, while calls have been growing for a wider probe into his past dealings with Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The investigation is being led by Thames Valley Police, while Andrew was held for 11 hours last week on his 66th birthday.
There have been calls for the royal family to take further action and make further statements but, as Phil explains, they find themselves in a position far more complex than initially meets the eye.
© Getty ImagesHe said: "The fact that he's now the subject of a police investigation means that they can't really talk about it, because obviously it's ongoing. I genuinely don't think they can comment really, while a police investigation is going on, and obviously that could take months."
Similarly, Nick said he believes the royals are "really stuck" but agreed it was "important" for them to address the situation, while the King and Queen seem to be in "battle mode".
However, Phil said that once the situation has "calmed down a bit", it would be good for the monarch to "address the nation and try to have a bit of a reset".
"They've got to heed public opinion," he said. "If the King gets an opportunity to get ahead of this by saying, 'what happened was terrible and we're deeply concerned about the victims', that would draw a line under it, rather like the Queen decided to make a live public broadcast to quell the anger over the death of Diana. I think a reset is needed and it will be good if Charles can do it."
© REUTERSAndrew himself has always denied any wrongdoing, but has not responded to the latest allegations.
Will Andrew actually be removed from the line of succession?
On Monday, it was revealed that the Australian Prime Minister had written to Sir Keir Starmer to say his government would back "any proposal" to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession. Anthony Albanese said Andrew was facing "grave allegations", adding: "Australians take them seriously."
Phil told HELLO! that he believes it is "quite likely" that Andrew, who is still currently eighth in line to the throne, will be removed from the line of succession, adding he would be "astonished" if no action is taken.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesHe said: "I think it will probably happen within six months. It could happen quite quickly – whether he ends up being charged or ending up in court or not. The political will and public opinion are so strong that it would end up being a gesture in some ways. He's clearly not going to come back as a working royal and the monarchy only exists with the support of the public."
However, Phil said that the motion would need agreement from all 14 countries, of which the King is head of state. "But the fact he's broken ranks and said that, I'm sure the others will probably follow suit. These things can be done," he explained, referring to the Australian PM's letter.
The disgraced former Prince can only be removed from the line of succession by an Act of Parliament, which requires agreement from the 14 Commonwealth countries, where Charles III is head of state.
Phil said: "It is going to be a difficult period, and a lot is on the shoulders of William and Kate. They are very popular, and I think William is now resigned to becoming King and he wouldn't want to let the late Queen down. He's gearing up for the task. It is a burden on both of them. But unfortunately, we are where we are."
