Prince Andrew might be King Charles’ brother, but when it comes to stepping in for the monarch during official royal duties, that door is firmly shut—and it’s staying that way. As reported by Fox News, while he’s technically still listed as a Counsellor of State, a behind-the-scenes rule change means he’s now just a name on paper.
The Duke of York, now 65, has reportedly been out of the royal spotlight for a while. He officially stepped back from his duties after a series of scandals, the most damaging involving accusations of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre, who was a known victim of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—reportedly once a close associate of Andrew. Although Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, the controversy severely damaged his public image and royal standing.
As a result, he was stripped of his royal titles and removed from any official role within the monarchy. That meant no more public appearances, no more ribbon cuttings, and definitely no standing in for the King. And while there might have been speculation about whether he could return to royal life in some capacity, one important change in 2022 made sure that’s not going to happen.
Here’s what happened. In November 2022, during a reading of the Counsellors of State Bill in the House of Lords, it was confirmed by the Royal Household that, moving forward, only “working members of the Royal Family will be called on to act as Counsellors of State.” That means that while Prince Andrew technically remains a Counsellor of State on paper, the role no longer has any real power for him.
Counsellors of State are royals who are officially authorized to act on the monarch’s behalf when the King is either abroad or unable to fulfill his duties due to illness or other reasons. We’re talking serious responsibilities like signing official documents, attending Privy Council meetings, welcoming foreign ambassadors, and even opening Parliament.
But as of December 2022, when the bill officially became law, that list of active substitutes was narrowed to working royals only. This also affects Prince Harry, who gave up royal duties in 2020 after moving to the US with Meghan Markle. Like Andrew, he still holds the title of Counsellor of State, but under this updated rule, he can’t actually step in for the King either.
Even though King Charles reportedly maintains a relationship with his brother, the monarchy has made it clear that only those currently serving the Crown will have a seat at the table when duty calls.
So, while Andrew might technically have a place in the royal pecking order, it’s really just symbolic at this point. The real decision-makers have moved on—and the monarchy is closing ranks around a much smaller, streamlined core team. For Andrew, that means there’s no royal comeback waiting in the wings. Not now, and likely not ever.