One minute on the steps

Royal author Andrew Lownie calls Andrew's attempt to corner Prince William at the Duchess of Kent's funeral the pivot point of his fall from grace.

“a pivotal moment in his fall from grace”

Westminster Cathedral, 16 September

After the Requiem Mass, the former Duke of York stood on the cathedral steps beside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, grinning, while relatives appeared to give him a wide berth.

The grin that landed badly

A source says William told his uncle that laughing at such a solemn service was 'not a good look', then closed off any further conversation.

“not a good look”

Caught on camera

Video of the exchange showed William visibly uncomfortable. It was the first public glimpse of what the heir actually thought of his uncle.

Disdain made visible

For Lownie, the scramble to get William alone showed how little regard the Prince of Wales had left for him.

“the absolute disdain with which he was held by the Prince of Wales”

An entitled oaf

Lownie's verdict is blunt. The funeral showed the public exactly who Andrew was, and his troubles snowballed from there.

“brought home just what an entitled oaf Andrew was”

How are you, William

Lip reader Nicola Hickling read the opening from footage. Andrew greeted the couple, Kate answered politely, and William looked uneasy.

“Good afternoon, William and Catherine, how are you?”

What can I do for you

William's reply was not warm. Hickling read it as a man trying to keep an unwanted conversation short.

“What can I do for you?”

The ask for forgiveness

According to the lip reading, Andrew then made his plea directly, framing it as a lesson learned before he lost his nerve.

“I've learnt from what I've done but before I forget, and if I can, I'd like to ask you if you can forgive?”

A one-word answer

Andrew tried again with 'We're really closed in together'. William's response was a single word: yes.

“Yes”

Title gone, house gone

Later that same month the King announced Andrew would lose his title and be evicted from Royal Lodge, his home for decades.

Arrested in February

Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, over claims he passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.

The photograph in the car

Phil Noble's shot of Andrew slumped in the back seat after a day of questioning told the public that the Queen's second son might really be held to account.

Then came the blaming

Whatever clarity the arrest brought did not last. Lownie says Andrew soon went back to blaming everyone but himself.

Charles could not do it

Lownie describes a King too sentimental to act against his own brother, which left the heir carrying the decision instead.

“Charles is sentimental, he's very compassionate, he's a bit of a ditherer”

William pushed from behind

Unable to speak publicly as number two, William is said to have driven the move to exile Andrew while avoiding any open clash with his father.

“William can't speak out, because he's number two and he won't cross his father, but he'll have had a big influence.”

Living with Anne was madness

When Princess Anne offered Andrew a home after Royal Lodge, William reportedly killed the idea in one word.

“madness”

Clearing the stable early

Lownie reads the hard line as preparation. William wants the mess settled before his own reign starts, with Kate alongside him.

Others feel the chill

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says Welby is not the only figure to fall out of favour, and rates William's ruthlessness as an asset for a watched monarchy.

“Thank goodness he has a ruthless streak, as this is needed in today's world”

Worse is still coming

Lownie expects fresh documents from a libel case settled by Ghislaine Maxwell, plus more Epstein files, to land in the months ahead.

“The first anniversary of the Duchess of Kent's funeral may mark another crucial stage in the fall of the most popular prince.”