An insider told People magazine, “I sensed a female touch. It was quite strong, and I was proud when I heard it,” referencing Camilla’s long-standing work advocating for victims of gender violence.

According to The Telegraph, Camilla had expressed privately that Andrew’s ongoing association with Epstein was undermining her advocacy. She reportedly voiced these concerns directly during family discussions, aware that her credibility was at stake.

Understanding Public Sentiment

A former courtier noted that both the King and Queen are acutely aware of public opinion:

“They know that without the trust of the public, they don’t have the agency to do their job.”

Behind the scenes, the process of removing Andrew’s privileges was slow. “Andrew had been dragging his heels,” one source explained. “It took time to finalize everything because it was complex. But the King knew when enough was enough.”

That moment came when Andrew’s scandal began to erode confidence in the monarchy itself. “They could see that trust in the institution was being impacted,” another insider said.

A Painful but Necessary Step

Prince Andrew’s downfall was cemented in 2022, when he reached an out-of-court settlement with a woman who accused him of taking advantage of her at age 17.

In the end, while the decision formally rested with King Charles, palace sources agree it bore the unmistakable influence of two women—Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton—who understood the delicate balance between compassion and duty, ensuring the monarchy could begin to heal its image once again.