Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is alleged to have had a “physical altercation” with one of Elizabeth II's most senior aides.
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 he could not host a Pitch@Palace event at Buckingham Palace.
The altercation was described by one staff member as a “kinetic” punch that caused astonishment inside the royal household, a senior staff member told royal author Robert Hardman.
“It was a routine domestic matter. The duke wanted to have a reception and there was no room. It was as simple as that,” a senior staff member told Hardman in an excerpt from his book Elizabeth II, which has been serialized in the daily mail.
“Tony said he would have to wait his turn like anyone else and the duke went for him.”
Sir Tony, who has owned the house since 2013 and remains in the role 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.
The Lord Chamberlain is reported to have received a call from Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who allegedly said: “I suppose you've been ringing people and causing trouble.”
In another alleged incident in Windsor, Royal Mews grooms were riding some of the late Queen's horses on the estate when an approaching car was seen revving its engine “aggressively”.
Hardman wrote that the car stopped next to Mountbatten-Windsor, who “yelled” at the driver: “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
She added that the former duke demanded her name before speaking to the late queen in person.
The book also describes the anger within the royal household when Mountbatten-Windsor went against advice and recorded the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis at the palace about her relationship with Epstein.
Lord Peel said he “had a firm belief that he was better than the rest of us.”
He was stripped of his military duties and use of the title of HRH in January 2022, a month before settling a legal dispute with one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre. She has alleged that she was assaulted by Andrew.
On March 22, Andrew was photographed 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 been contacted by He Independent for a comment.
