Ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor once faced unexpected resistance from a royal family aide. Despite losing his prince title and royal honors, the palace staffer’s actions reportedly left the disgraced royal shocked. King Charles later revoked Prince Andrew’s royal status as the monarchy faced continued backlash over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Royal press secretary recalls his tense exchange with ex-Prince Andrew
Former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter has recalled a never-before-heard clash with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
During his appearance on the Daily Expresso podcast, Arbiter revealed that he rejected one of Andrew’s demands during a royal garden party. He later hung up on the ex-prince after the ousted royal slammed the phone down on him.
The episode unfolded at Buckingham Palace during the Lambeth Conference, the decennial summit of Anglican bishops. Around 100 clergy in crimson robes were in attendance when Andrew rang Arbiter with an idea for a picture.
The former palace official shared, “He phoned me up one day during a garden party at Buckingham Palace and said, ‘Get some chairs out because I’ve got a good idea for a photograph.’ There were about 100 priests in their crimson frocks at the garden party, and he thought it would make a good picture of the Queen with all the clergy around her. I just said, ‘No, it’s not your garden party.’”
He further disclosed, “And he slammed the phone down on me. So I picked up the phone, called him back, and said, ‘Don’t you ever slam the phone down on me again.’ And I slammed the phone down on him.”
Per the Daily Express, the incident worried his co-workers, and one cautioned that he might be fired. The ex-royal press chief, however, was unfazed. Mr Arbiter said: “I said, ‘No, he won’t tell anybody.’ And he didn’t.” He finished by sharing a blunter view of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s character: “Cowards and bullies don’t cry to Mummy.”
Ex-Prince Andrew has frequently been portrayed as entitled and quick to take offence. Dickie Arbiter’s recollection offers a rare first-hand account of that reputation behind palace walls.
