The King has not visited his disgraced brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in Sandringham, despite Princess Anne and Prince Edward reportedly reaching out

he King “may never speak again” to his disgraced younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a new report has claimed.

Charles, 77, has not visited Andrew since his move to Sandringham, despite his siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne, reportedly reaching out.

Sources have now claimed that the monarch may never speak to his brother again, telling the Daily Mail that it would take an “enormous shift” for them to even be in the same room.

The insiders also alleged that Charles and Andrew have “never” been close as brothers, even before details about the latter’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

The King stripped Andrew of his remaining titles last October and ordered him to leave his Royal Lodge home in Windsor, highlighting the huge distance between them.

Following Andrew’s arrest in February, Charles released a public statement saying he would support police in their investigations, adding: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

Below, HELLO! takes a look at the growing tensions between the brothers over the years – and the fractured bonds that began during childhood.

King Charles and Andrew as children

King Charles and Andrew had 11 years between them growing up together, meaning they perhaps weren’t as close as many siblings. Despite this, Queen Elizabeth’s children had been “very excited” when she was expecting Andrew, with a letter at the time revealing: “Especially Charles”.

In their early years, the brothers seemed close, with Charles doting on his brother in early childhood photographs.

© Keystone, Getty
Charles and Andrew were initially close

But Charles, born in 1948, was always being prepared to be the future King, while Andrew, born in 1960, was said to be the late Queen’s “favourite” child. Andrew was said to be loud and outgoing, while Charles was quieter, more studious and was bullied at school.

In addition, Charles spent a lot of time away at school when they were growing up, with royal author Robert Jobson describing him as “more avuncular than big brother”. When Andrew started at Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland in 1973, Charles was starting to carry out senior royal duties.

Despite this, Andrew was one of Charles’s best men when the royal married the late Princess Diana in 1981, and they spent time together as a foursome with Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Sarah and Diana were firm friends and of a similar age, so they all went on skiing holidays together.

Growing tensions between Andrew and Charles revealed

The relationship between the brothers has soured since Andrew’s links to Epstein were confirmed and since the royal’s Newsnight interview in 2019.

© AFP via Getty Images
Andrew and Charles were last seen together in September

In recent years, it briefly seemed that Andrew was being slowly welcomed back into the royal fold, attending the annual Easter celebration in 2025 and the funeral of the Duchess of Kent that September.

But even before the removal of his titles in October, Charles stopped funding Andrew’s private security costs, cut him off financially, and increasingly disapproved of him.

Last month, an associate of Andrew told HELLO! that the relationship between the brothers is broken beyond repair, adding that they’re unlikely to be seen together in public again, even at family Christmases in Sandringham.

They said: “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work that out. A lot of people got badly hurt by a person whom [Andrew] should never have associated himself with, under any circumstances. That is one part of this. The other part is how and what has happened [between Andrew and the King]. Would you treat your brother like this in the circumstances? They are people, just like us.“

© Getty Images
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attended the Easter service in 2025

Royal author Robert Jobson added that the King has felt personally betrayed by the allegations that have emerged from the Epstein files. He said in 2013 or 2014, Andrew had given Charles his “complete and utter assurance” that he had done nothing wrong, citing a source close to the King. This, however, was far from the truth, though Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

Andrew Lownie, the author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, previously claimed that these feelings run so deep that “I don’t think we’ll see Andrew at Charles’s funeral”.

What has Charles said about Andrew and Epstein?

“They have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation,” Charles said of the police enquiry after Andrew’s arrest in February. He added: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

The full statement didn’t refer to Andrew as his brother, showing the complete distance between them: “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” he wrote. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.”

© Getty Images
King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward walk along The Royal Mile

At the end, he wrote: “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 final blow – removing Andrew’s titles

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Diana played matchmaker for Andrew and Sarah

The King said previously that he would be “ready to support” any investigation into Andrew. In October, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had taken action to formally remove Andrew’s titles and evict him from Royal Lodge.

It read: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”

Andrew has faced years of controversy after allegations that he sexually abused the late Virginia Giuffre, which he has always denied.