The Southport killer’s parents bear considerable blame for the deadly mass stabbingattack, which could and should have been prevented, a damning inquiry has found.
A bombshell report from the Southport Inquiry found a string of missed chances to halt violence-obsessed teenager Axel Rudakubana before he unleashed his attack of “unparalleled cruelty” on a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024. The horrific stabbing claimed the lives of three children and left eight more girls and two adults wounded, sparking riots across the country.
Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford concluded that “this terrible event could have been – and should have been – prevented”. He said that “it is almost certain” that the tragedy would have been stopped if the killer’s family had shared the full extent of their concerns with authorities in late July 2024.
He also placed blame at the door of the multiple agencies that allowed Rudakubana to fall through the cracks, stating that the killer’s “trajectory towards grave violence was signposted repeatedly and unambiguously”.
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The prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, home secretary, agreed the report exposed “systemic failures” and vowed to make changes to protect the public.
In the damning 763 page report, Sir Adrian found:
A “fundamental failure” by any organisation to take responsibility for managing Rudakubana’s “grave risks”, adding that police missed two occasions to arrest him for carrying a knife
There were missed opportunities over many years to intervene by his parents and other agencies, warning some safeguards were “ineffective or inadequately used”, while others “failed outright”
Rudakubana’s “deeply problematic behaviour was too frequently excused on the basis of his perceived or diagnosed autism spectrum disorder”
The killer became “ever more fixated on extreme violence” after spending the majority of his waking hours “wholly unsupervised” online, where he viewed increasingly disturbing content
“Significant parental failures” hid crucial information from officials in the days leading up to the attack and allowed knives and weapons to be delivered to his home
(Left to right) Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered in the Southport attack (PA)
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were murdered when Rudakubana, then 17, entered The Hart Space, armed with a knife in summer 2024. He also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes. The 19-year-old, who was simply referred to as “the perpetrator” or “AR” in hearings out of respect to victims and their families, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years.
The inquiry, held over nine weeks at Liverpool Town Hall last year, heard from more than 100 witnesses, 67 who gave live evidence, about Rudakubana’s involvement with health services, social care and education, and the three referrals to anti-terror programme Prevent that were made, and closed, before he carried out the attack. Home secretary Yvette Cooper announced the inquiry in January 2025 after Rudakubana’s contact with these various bodies emerged.
In a statement delivered at Liverpool Town Hall as the report was published, Sir Adrian said: “I have no doubt that if appropriate procedures had been in place and if sensible steps had been taken by the agencies and AR’s parents, this dreadful event would not have happened. It could have been and it should have been prevented.”
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He continued: “AR’s trajectory towards grave violence was signposted repeatedly and unambiguously. Yet the systems and agencies responsible for safeguarding the public did not act with the cohesion, urgency or clarity required.”
Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford said the obligation was to provide answers to victims and their families (PA)
Commenting on the parent’s handling of the teenager, who he described as an “aggressive, near total recluse”, he added: “If the full extent of AR’s family’s concerns had been shared with authorities in late July 2024 – including on the day of the attack – it is almost certain this tragedy would have been prevented.”
Sir Adrian acknowledged Rudakubana had placed his parents in an “extremely difficult position”.
“Their life at home must have become little short of a nightmare, given, to use the words of his own father, AR had turned into a monster,” the chairman said.
However he found the couple, Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire, had “created significant obstructions” to engagement with him by various agencies and failed to stand up to his behaviour and set boundaries, as well as failing to report a clear escalation in his risk.
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He said: “If AR’s parents had done what they morally ought to have done, AR would not have been at liberty to conduct the attack and it would not therefore have occurred.”
But, he said it should have been “obvious” to those in a position to act that Rudakubana was not being “effectively parented”.
Both Rudakubana’s parents, who moved to the UK from Rwanda, gave evidence to the inquiry from remote locations.
His mother told the hearing: “There are many things that Alphonse and I wish we had done differently, anything that might have prevented the horrific event of July 29 2024. (For) our failure, we are profoundly sorry.”
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Violence obsessed Rudakubana had become a ‘near-total recluse’ at his family home in Old School Close, Banks (PA Archive)
Sir Adrian said Rudakubana had “clearly revealed the extreme danger that he presented to others” more than four years before his attack, when he went his former school, the Range High School in Formby, armed with a kitchen knife and a hockey stick and attacked a student.
The inquiry chairman said the incident in December 2019, for which the teenager received a 10-month referral order, was a “watershed event” and should have led agencies to conclude he posed a “high risk of harm to others”.
The inquiry heard between 2019 and 2024, Rudakubana was referred to anti-terror programme Prevent three times, but the referrals were closed. He purchased a number of weapons, including three machetes, online as well as ingredients he used to make the poison ricin.
Sir Adrian said as time passed, interaction between Rudakubana and organisations became “at best, something of a token”.
The chairman recommended the second phase of the inquiry should consider appointing a single agency to monitor interventions for children presenting a high risk of serious harm. He also said it should consider abilities to restrict or monitor their access to the internet.
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The families of the survivors warned “this must not happen again” as they called for urgent steps to address 67 recommendations made in the report.
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, of law firm Fletchers, represents the families of 22 of the wounded children.
“The physical and emotional scars inflicted on them are a daily reminder of something that we now know could and should have been prevented,” she said.
“They have bravely shared their stories with this inquiry, reliving the horror of that day, in the hope that things can be done, change can happen and that no other family will have to suffer as they have.
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“We ask that where recommendations have been made, those individuals and agencies to which they are addressed, take action now. Not tomorrow. This must not happen again.”
Nicola Brook, solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, representing the three adult survivors, said her clients were heroes who have suffered a “deluge of unjustified criticism on social media”, which she called to end.
“The report crystallises one of our key concerns throughout – that every organisation tried to shirk responsibility, and that there was a disturbing lack of leadership,” she added. “This is not the first time we have heard this at an inquiry.
“It is evident, time and time again, that there is a culture within government agencies to place their own reputations above their fundamental duty to protect society, and a failure to properly reflect on their conduct once presented with clear evidence that they failed on multiple occasions.”
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Axel Rudakubana during a preparatory hearing at Liverpool Crown Court (PA Media)
Prime minister Keir Starmer described the findings as “truly harrowing and profoundly disturbing” as he described the murders as “one of the darkest moments in our country’s history”.
Responding to the report, he added. “It sets out in stark detail the systemic failures over the five years that led to this terrible event, and the repeated missed opportunities that could have prevented it.
“While nothing will ever bring three little girls back, erase the trauma from those injured, or undo the lasting impact on those who witnessed such horror, I am determined to make the fundamental changes needed to keep the public safe.”
Home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, added: “Sir Adrian’s report is heartbreaking. It shows a systematic failure of the state to prevent a vile and sickening individual perpetrating this atrocity.”
Widespread rioting and civil unrest that erupted across the country following the murders has not been examined.
A second phase of the inquiry will be informed by the findings of phase one and is expected to focus on the risk posed by young people with a fixation, or obsession with, acts of extreme violence.
Mark Wynn, chief executive of Lancashire County Council, issued an apology and promised to implement the report’s recommendations in full.
“We are deeply sorry for the failures identified and for the part we played in the systemic shortcomings that preceded the attack in Southport,” he added.
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“We know that no words can ease the grief of the families who lost loved ones, or the pain of those who were injured and traumatised.
“Since 2019, we have made substantial changes to our safeguarding practice, and the chair’s findings will inform our continued improvement. We are committed to implementing all recommendations directed to us in full.”
Chief Constable Rob Carden, of Merseyside Police, said the force welcomes and acknowledges the findings. He paid tribute to families of Elsie, Bebe and Alice, adding: “It is incumbent on all the organisations referred to by the inquiry to act on the recommendations made to ensure everything possible is done to prevent this from happening again.”
The Gunners are set to face their rivals at 4.30pm BST at the Etihad Stadium, with Mikel Arteta’s men six points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side at the summit.
However, the travelling Arsenal fans may be forced into adjusting their route from London to Manchester, with train service provider Avanti West Coast announcing on Sunday morning that there was “significant damage to the overhead electric wires”, with Avanti “unable to serve Manchester Piccadilly until 11am today”.
The network has said that “essential repair work” was needed at the station, and that there would be “alterations” to services for Manchester and London Euston routes.
An Avanti statement on X read: “Following significant damage to the overhead electric wires, we are unable to serve Manchester Piccadilly until 11am today (19 April). To allow for Network Rail to complete essential repair work at the station, there will be alterations to services on our Manchester route.
“Our services to London Euston will start from Stockport until 11am. Avanti West Coast tickets will be accepted on connecting services with other operators between Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport.”
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Avanti emphasised that passengers should check their journeys before they began their travel.
The delays will also have caused a problem for those running the Manchester Marathon, which was scheduled to start at 8.55am for the elite wheelchair race.
The elite pen’s gun went off at 9am, while the first standard wave followed shortly afterwards.
What does it mean for my journey?
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The affected services into Manchester Piccadilly are Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales.
Avanti West Coast services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston are impacted, while CrossCountry trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, Reading, Bristol Temple Meads, Bournemouth, Southampton Central and Paignton are also impacted.
Should you choose not to travel, refunds will be made available through the respective operator’s help pages.
Meanwhile, tickets for other networks are being accepted on different routes, such as Bee Network buses, Metrolink, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales and TransPennine Express.
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All CrossCountry services are running out of and to Stockport till 11am, while Avanti is running rail replacement buses at Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
One person has been taken to hospital after a serious collision in North Belfast. Emergency services were called to the scene on the Crumlin Road shortly before 6pm on Saturday, April 18.
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It followed a one vehicle crash in the area. Traffic on the road was being diverted at the junction of the Crumlin Road and Upper Hightown Road, with the road reopening on Sunday morning.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed one person was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital after initial treatment at the scene.
A spokesperson for the NIAS said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 17:59 following reports of a RTC on the Crumlin Road, Belfast.
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“NIAS despatched one Emergency Crew and 2 HART responses to the scene. The HEMS team was also tasked to the incident, responding in response car.
“Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to RVH.”
In a statement on Sunday morning, a PSNI spokesperson said: “The Crumlin Road in North Belfast, which was closed yesterday evening following a one vehicle road traffic collision in the area, has now re-opened.”
An investigation has been launched after Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow was allegedly ‘firebombed’ on Saturday
10:15, 19 Apr 2026Updated 10:20, 19 Apr 2026
Police have launched an investigation after a synagogue was allegedly “firebombed” last night.
Multiple arson or attempted arson attacks have been reported on Jewish property in north-west London in the past month.
The incident at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow on Saturday night caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but no injuries or significant structural damage, the Community Security Trust (CST) said.
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The building is close to a school and children’s playground, and police were seen searching a black SUV nearby on Sunday morning.
A large cordon is in place and a forensics officer, fire investigation dogs and several plainclothes officers were working at the scene. One marked and five unmarked police cars were outside the place of worship.
A spokesperson for the CST, the charity which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.
“We want to thank the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for responding quickly and for all they are doing to protect the Jewish community during this unprecedented period.
“We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they investigate and seek to identify those responsible.”
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A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson said: “Last night, another Jewish synagogue in London was firebombed, this time in Kenton. Thankfully, the damage was limited.” They added that this “is now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community”.
A spokesperson for the CST, the charity which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.
The pub has ‘amazing views’ from its garden, according to previous customers
Home to two churches in one churchyard and a “cracking little pub” with “amazing views from the garden”, one Cambridgeshire village marries history with a modern feel. Swaffham Prior is a quaint village in East Cambridgeshire, around five miles from Newmarket.
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The village is dominated by its twin churches within one graveyard – Church of St Mary and the Church of St Cyriac and St Julitta – which have served the parish since at least the 12th century.
St Mary’s Church is still a working church, but St Cyria & St Julitta offers its own unique charm. It has a 15th century octagonal bell tower and a ring of six bells.
Swaffham Prior is mentioned in the Domesday Book and features stunning houses dating back several centuries. It is also home to a local primary school and a pub called The Red Lion.
The quintessential English pub offers a selection of ales, fine wines, and home cooked food. Described by customers as a “cracking little pub” with “amazing views from the garden”, it appears to be loved by locals and visitors.
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One guest wrote: “Cracking little pub. Good pints, proper food, friendly faces behind the bar. Feels like the heart of the village. Great if you want a relaxed drink or a decent feed.”
Another commented: “A true hidden gem in the heart of Swaffham Prior.” They continued: “From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with genuine warmth by both the staff and locals. It’s got that rare blend of cozy charm and character, with a roaring fire in the winter and a lovely garden for summer evenings.”
Swaffham Prior Primary School is a co-educational Church of England school, located in the central area of the village. The school describes it as a place where “learning and values are not just sown in lessons but in the whole experience of living and growing together”.
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, also warned mainstream politicians in ‘last chance saloon’ to deliver for working people.
Scotland’s leading trade unionist has warned Nigel Farage’s Reform is a “gateway drug to fascism”, ahead of next month’s Holyrood election.
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Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), said mainstream politicians are in the “last chance saloon” to deliver for working people amid the populist right surge.
It comes as Reform UK, led in Scotland by ex-Tory peer Malcolm Offord, looks set to win a significant number of MSPs on May 7 according to polls – and could beat Labour into second place.
Foyer claimed the rise of Reform would not improve voters’ lives but make them worse.
Speaking ahead of the STUC’s annual congress in Dundee, starting tomorrow, she told the Sunday Mail: “We only have to look across the Atlantic to the state the US is in to see what some of those consequences could look like.
“The populist right always play the same game. They play on the dissatisfaction of people when mainstream politics fails to deliver and be bold enough to support ordinary people.
“But they are are multimillionaires bankrolled by billionaires. They’re going to cut taxes for the rich, cut our public services, cut jobs and cut away an awful lot of our rights as a population.
“They make things sound very reasonable, but ultimately parties like Reform are the gateway drug to fascism.”
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The STUC, Scotland’s largest trade union body, is urging other Holyrood parties to adopt a bolder economic approach in response, tackling the cost of living and boosting jobs, industry and battered public services.
Key policies they back are scrapping and replacing council tax, increasing wealth taxes, and public ownership of energy.
Foyer added: “Our mainstream politicians are in the last chance saloon here. Working people are really angry.
“We need governments prepared to take on the bosses and the billionaires and take a more interventionist approach to the long-term security of energy, affordability, and our economic development.
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“We don’t want more communities thrown on the scrapheap.”
Reform Holyrood candidate and councillor Thomas Kerr hit back: “This reads of utter delusion from Scotland’s token lefty.”
“We’ll take no lectures from the woman who owns five properties, but lectures working people for daring to want a tax cut so they have more of their hard earned cash.
“Reform is a gateway drug to common sense, Foyer is a gateway drug to 1970s socialism which has been thoroughly rejected before and will be again.”
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Audiences have described the BAFTA-winning film as “heavenly”.
09:45, 19 Apr 2026Updated 09:45, 19 Apr 2026
A post-war film has been described as “one of the most beautiful movies ever made”. The picture follows a young Irish woman navigating between two contrasting worlds during the 1950s. Both critics and viewers have commended its emotional depth and enduring charm.
With an outstanding 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Brooklyn (2015) makes for ideal weekend viewing. The film is currently available to stream without charge on BBC iPlayer. Nevertheless, audiences have just 18 days remaining to watch it.
Set in the 1950s, young Irishwoman Eilis Lace (portrayed by Saoirse Ronan) departs her modest hometown for a fresh start in Brooklyn, attracted by the prospect of opportunities in America.
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While she initially battles with homesickness, she slowly adjusts. Eilis subsequently falls in love in Brooklyn, and welcomes her newfound independence.
Yet, an unexpected family crisis summons her back to Ireland, where she finds herself drawn once more into the existence she had abandoned.
Torn between her history and her future, Eilis faces a choice between two nations and the distinctly different paths each presents.
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Reviews
“In short, Brooklyn is one of the very best films of the past decade and worth looking back on,” penned Dave Giannini for InSession Film.
Awarding the film five out of five stars, Don Shanahan from Film Obsessive commented: “Brooklyn is a forthright, approachable, and esteemed historical drama where the dignity and honesty soar to heavenly heights to shine on the plights of love and independence.”
Viewers were equally effusive in their praise for the film. One remarked: “Beautiful story. One of the best movies. Moving.”
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Another enthused: “Beautiful classic in every sense of the word. Outstanding performances. Atmospheric joy. Don’t miss it.”
A third wrote: “It’s a masterpiece, and profoundly moving, especially if you’re an immigrant yourself. The closing is one of the most beautiful romantic scenes ever. In my opinion.”
A final reviewer declared: “One of the most beautiful movies ever made. Colours, music, and reticence punctuate throughout. I have watched the scene in the dining room of the church 7,351,212 times.
“The man sings, the actress recognises brilliance amidst shuffles and anonymity, and then the director cuts to her chaperone listening to a radio. So god**** brilliant.”
I AM writing to The Press in the hope that readers might be able to help me reconnect with a dear old friend and classmate, Alan Wong (Wong Ka-kui), who emigrated from Hong Kong to York around 1991.
Alan and I were close friends during our school years at Ngau Tau Kok Catholic Primary School.
We lost touch shortly after he moved to North Yorkshire to start a new chapter over 30 years ago.
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I often wonder how his life has unfolded in the beautiful city of York and would dearly love to catch up on the decades we have missed.
Alan would likely be in his 50s now. Given his distinctive Chinese name (shared with a famous Hong Kong musician), I hope he might be known to the local Chinese community or long-term residents in the area.
If Alan is reading this, or if anyone knows of his whereabouts or his family, I would be deeply grateful if you could contact me via email at swtcheng@gmail.com
Finding a friend after 35 years is no easy task, but I believe in the community spirit of York to help bridge this gap.
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Thank you for your time and assistance.
Tony Cheng Wai-Tung
—
‘We already get cheaper electricity from wind and solar’
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REFORM and the Tories are doing a noisy sales job on new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
In view of Trump’s war this would seem sensible – however, the facts point in the opposite direction.
The reality is that we already get cheaper electricity from wind and solar.
In March, we avoided the need for gas imports worth £1bn, thanks to record electricity generation from renewables.
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Wind generation is growing year-on-year by 38 per cent – at the same time that electricity generation from gas falls annually by 25 per cent. And as a bonus, these clean sources avoid the environmental and health costs of burning fossil fuels.
Were the government to announce a fresh round of drilling licences, the impact on bills would be zero in the immediate term and minimal in the medium term.
Even if they sold straight away – which would be unlikely – it would take five to seven years for the wells to be productive.
And even if we could ringfence UK-produced energy for the UK market – which we couldn’t – it wouldn’t change the fundamental structure of that market, in which costs are predominantly set by international fossil fuel prices.
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If the barrel cost of oil is surging worldwide, so is our unit price. It is ever more expensive to extract the ever smaller residual deposits from the North Sea. By the time they came onstream, electricity from renewables would be a third of the cost.
Peter Williams,
Newbiggin,
Malton
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—
Why I agree with Trump
DONALD Trump rarely speaks sense but his advice to Ed Miliband for the UK to “drill, baby drill” is spot on, particularly so considering the turmoil countries worldwide are currently encountering.
Will Miliband react positively? Not a chance, neither will Reeves nor Starmer, common sense to them no longer exists, it has been replaced by a rash of costly vanity projects achieving absolutely nothing other than making everyone collectively poorer (that is apart from millions who have decided living off state benefits is more lucrative than working 40 hours per week).
A synagogue in north-west London was hit by an attempted arson attack overnight.
The Community Security Trust said Kenton United Synagogue has sustained caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.
Royal expert and author Robert Hardman has opened up about his various encounters with the Royal Family over the past three decades and why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was always different
Liam McInerney Content Editor
09:34, 19 Apr 2026
A royal expert has opened up about his various encounters with senior members of the Royal Family — and said two things made Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stand out from the rest.
The disgraced former prince is now living in Marsh Farm after being booted out of Royal Lodge having lived there since 2003.
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Further troubling revelations about his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, along with his arrest in February under suspicion of misconduct in public office, have further cast him astray from his family.
But Robert Hardman, who has now written a new biography about the late Queen Elizabeth II, has said Andrew was always different.
He said his encounters with him were a contrast to what it was like being in the company of his nephews, parents and siblings.
Royal commentator and author Robert, 60, who has covered 70 tours from Abu Dhabi to Ukraine, said: “Philip was fascinating and sharp — you really had to keep your wits about you. Ditto Charles. The Princess Royal is fabulous — I’ve followed her around and could barely keep up. William and Harry can effortlessly work a room, charming everyone and putting them at ease.”
And speaking to the Sunday Telegraph about his dealings with Andrew, he continued: “But Andrew just isn’t as intelligent or as articulate as the others. As trade envoy, he was forever saying disobliging things and putting his foot in it.
“He’d be at a telecoms conference and suddenly come out with the line, ‘What is Orange?’”
Robert’s new biography is called Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside story — and it is his sixth book about the royals.
He spoke about the Queen a century after her birth and claimed it was her who first wanted her son to move out of Royal Lodge.
Robert said she “believed him” when he claimed he had cut ties with Epstein before his lies were eventually exposed and King Charles removed the titles he was granted at birth.
As for the Queen not being alive for this, Robert added: “I think one of the blessings in all this is that the Queen wasn’t around to live through the final degradation, and the brutal disgrace of a royal having their ‘princedom’ taken away.”
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The broadcaster and journalist also revealed why the Queen had an “instinctive sympathy” for the “spare” Prince Harry.
He said she “always adored” her grandson and added that her father, who was suddenly led to the throne after the abdication of his brother, was a spare, as was her sister, Margaret, who she often defended.
Robert, who has reported on royals for over 30 years, claimed she was “conscious” that both Harry and Andrew had “clearly less defined roles” simply because they were the second sons.
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