Following reports, it appears that the ceremonial banner featuring Prince Andrew’s heraldic emblem has been removed from its position at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The banners adorning the ceiling of St. George’s Chapel represent members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most esteemed chivalric order in Britain. Each banner showcases the owner’s full coat of arms and is displayed above the choir stall.
Typically, the removal of such a display is reserved for cases of high treason or rebellion against the Crown.
Prince Andrew was granted the privilege of displaying his coat of arms in the chapel when he was admitted to the Order of the Garter nearly two decades ago. This ancient institution of chivalry traces its origins back to the 14th century.
Photographs published by The Sun reveal that the banner was exhibited on Saturday but subsequently taken down on Wednesday. It features symbols such as the three lions of England, the harp of Ireland, Scotland’s lion rampant, and an anchor representing his naval service.
An insider disclosed to The Sun that the removal occurred opportunistically.
St George’s Chapel holds significance for Prince Andrew, as it was where he attended the funerals of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, and his father, Prince Philip, 18 months earlier.
Recent reports suggest that Prince Andrew has voluntarily renounced his royal titles in the midst of ongoing fallout from allegations of sexual involvement with Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking victim, Virginia Giuffre, who asserts she was underage at the time.
Despite vehemently denying the accusations and settling out of court with Giuffre in 2022 to prevent a civil trial in the US, pressure is mounting for Prince Andrew to vacate his 30-room residence due to his connections to Epstein and the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs.
Allegations have surfaced regarding undisclosed details of Prince Andrew’s lease for the Crown Estate property at Windsor Great Park from over two decades ago.
The Mirror has reached out to the Royal Collection Trust press office for further details.