The late queen reportedly understood the difficulties that came with being a “spare”

ueen Elizabeth II reportedly had a personal reason for her patience and empathy toward both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, according to royal biographer Robert Hardman.

Speaking on the latest Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things podcast, the royal author explained that the late monarch’s apparent leniency toward the two so-called “royal spares” stemmed from her own family history, and her experience of being close to those who lived life in the shadow of the crown.
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had a great deal of “sympathy” towards Prince Harry and Andrew (Credit: ALPR/AdMedia/SplashNews.com)

Queen Elizabeth II had ‘sympathy’ for Prince Harry and Andrew

Mr Hardman shared that Queen Elizabeth’s understanding of the struggles facing younger siblings of heirs began in childhood.

Her father, King George VI, never expected to rule. However, his brother Edward VIII famously abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

The abdication crisis didn’t just alter history. It also placed enormous pressure on a young Elizabeth, who was suddenly the heir to the throne.

Watching her father struggle with the weight of unexpected kingship, as Mr Hardman explained, gave the queen a lifelong sympathy for those caught in roles they didn’t choose.

The late queen understood the difficulties that came with being a “spare” (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Another formative influence, Mr Hardman said, was the queen’s relationship with her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Despite her royal status and glamour, Margaret was often described as unfulfilled and troubled, never quite able to carve out a purpose separate from her proximity to the throne.

“All throughout Margaret’s life, there was a sort of melancholy about her,” Mr Hardman observed, as reported by the Daily Mail. “[She] could never really find her true role in life.”

I think it’s because she saw the fact her father was a spare.

This, he believes, directly informed the queen’s attitude toward both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry.

“People ask, why was the queen so long-suffering with Andrew or Harry?” Mr Hardman questioned. “I think it’s because she saw the fact her father was a spare. She also felt great sympathy for her sister, Margaret. She had a great deal of sympathy for those in that position.”

“You have Prince Andrew, who can’t work out what he’s for. Prince Harry felt the same,” he noted, adding that Queen Elizabeth II “cut them a lot of slack”.

Prince Andrew has faced much scandal in recent years (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince Andrew scandal

That compassion didn’t come without complications. Prince Andrew recently announced he would stop using his royal title, amid renewed scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Due to the scandal, public opinion on Andrew has shifted sharply.

This shift in perception hasn’t only been seen in public opinion, but also in the response from within the royal family itself.

While King Charles has quietly offered his brother some support, seemingly allowing him to remain at Royal Lodge and appear occasionally at public events, he was reportedly the driving force behind Prince Andrew’s title decision.

According to the Daily Mail, it’s believed Andrew’s decision may have been prompted by a direct “threat” from his older brother.

In contrast, Prince William has long taken a firmer stance against his uncle.

The Prince of Wales is reported to have had a tense and distant relationship with Andrew. He is expected to take a more “ruthless” approach when he becomes king, sources predict.

As reported by The Times, William intends to exclude Prince Andrew from both public and private royal events, including state occasions and even his future coronation.

Royal Insider contacted reps on these claims.