Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had a “physical altercation” with one of Elizabeth II’s most senior aides, it is claimed.
The former Duke of York is said to have lashed out at Vice-Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, master of the Royal household, after he was told that he could not accommodate a Pitch@Palace event at Buckingham Palace.
The altercation was described by one member of staff as a “kinetic” blow that caused astonishment within the royal household, a senior member of staff told royal author Robert Hardman.
“It was a routine household matter. The Duke wanted to have a reception and there wasn’t any room. It was as simple as that,” a senior member of staff told Mr Hardman in an excerpt from his book Elizabeth II, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail.
“Tony said he’d have to wait his turn like anybody else and the Duke went for him.”
Sir Tony, who has been master of the household since 2013 and remains in the position working for the King, is said to have reported the altercation with the former Duke to the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Peel, who raised it with the then Prince Charles. He then allegedly spoke to his brother about the incident.
It has been reported that Lord Chamberlain then received a call from Mr Mountbatten-Windsor who allegedly said: “I gather you’ve been calling people and causing problems.”
In another alleged incident in Windsor, grooms from the Royal Mews had been riding some of the late Queen’s horses on the estate when an approaching car was seen to be revving the engine “aggressively”.
Mr Hardman wrote that the car pulled alongside Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who “bellowed” at the driver: “Who the f*** do you think you are?”.
He added that the former Duke demanded her name before taking it up with the late Queen in person.
The book also describes the anger within the royal household when Mr Mountbatten-Windsor went against advice and recorded the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in the palace about his relationship with Epstein.
Lord Peel said he “had an overriding belief that he was better than the rest of us.”
He was stripped of his military roles and use of HRH title in January 2022, a month before he settled a legal dispute with one of Epstein’s victims Virginia Giuffre. She has alleged that she was assaulted by Andrew.
On 22 March, Andrew was pictured for the first time since his arrest. The 66-year-old former prince was seen walking his dogs in the grounds around his new home, Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
Buckingham Palace and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have both been contacted by The Independent for a comment.
