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Prince Andrew (2021): Lunch yes, church service no
Photo: Steve Parsons / dpa
Britain's Prince Andrew will stay away from a planned public appearance with the family following royal advice.
It had previously been reported that the 62-year-old was scheduled to attend an event honoring the Order of the Garter - one of Britain's oldest chivalric orders - on Monday.
A few hours before the start of the event, a spokeswoman said at the request of the German Press Agency: "The Duke of York will attend the ceremony and lunch, but not the procession or the service." This is a personal decision after consultation with the family.
The Telegraph and ITV had reported that Prince Charles and Prince William had intervened and called for Andrew to be excluded from the appointment.
Speculation about a return to public life as a royal
The Queen's second-eldest son has resigned from public duties as a royal after becoming involved in an abuse scandal.
However, there is always speculation as to whether and what a partial return could look like.
In mid-February, Andrew was able to avert an abuse lawsuit in the USA against himself with a settlement that was probably worth millions.
Plaintiff Virginia Giuffre accused him of repeatedly abusing her when she was 17.
She said she was previously a victim of an abuse ring set up by Andrew's former friend Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew denied the allegations.
However, he had already had to give up his military ranks and official duties for the royal family.
At the end of March, Andrew took a step back into the public eye.
Queen Elizabeth II had chosen him to accompany her to Westminster Abbey for the memorial service for her husband Prince Philip, who died last year at the age of 99.
The election caused a great surprise.
On the other hand, Andrew did not take part in any major events celebrating the Queen's 70th jubilee.
He was not allowed to stand with the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color parade.
He had canceled attending a service because of a corona infection.
ptz/dpa
