A banner featuring Prince Andrew’s heraldic symbol has been removed from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle as reported. These banners represent members of the prestigious Order of the Garter and are typically displayed above the choir stalls with the owner’s coat of arms.
The act of taking down such a display is usually reserved for cases involving high treason or acts against the Crown. Prince Andrew was granted the honor of displaying his coat of arms in the chapel when he joined the Order of the Garter 19 years ago, an ancient chivalric institution dating back to the 14th century.
Photographs from The Sun show that the banner, featuring symbols like the lions of England, Ireland’s harp, Scotland’s lion rampant, and an anchor representing his naval career, was present on Saturday but removed on Wednesday. A source mentioned that the removal occurred at an opportune moment.
The 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. Amid ongoing controversy related to allegations of misconduct with Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew reportedly decided to relinquish his royal titles voluntarily last week.
Despite facing mounting pressure to vacate his mansion amidst the Epstein scandal, Prince Andrew remains at the Royal Lodge. Claims have surfaced regarding the prince’s undisclosed “peppercorn” rent on a property in Windsor Great Park, as per a redacted lease from over two decades ago.
The Mirror has reached out to the Royal Collection Trust press office for further details on the matter.