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‘Showdown’ between Andrew and William revealed in bombshell new book

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Daily Record

King Charles removed Andrew from public duties – but a new tell-all book says William has been at odds with his uncle for some time

William wanted Andrew banished and rowed with Charles over ‘stain on Royal Family’

A blistering new book reveals the truth behind the difficult relationship between Prince William and his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

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William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story’ has been wrriten by The Mirror‘s royal editor Russell Myers, drawing on his many years of experience following the royal couple. Set to be published on February 26, it’s the first joint biography of the Prince and Princess of Wales in more a decade.

The book reveals the blistering rows which have taken place behind closed doors as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s exile from the royal family has been years in the making. Following his ascension to the throne in September 2022, King Charles removed Andrew from public duties and stripped him of his HRH.

In October 2025 he delivered the final blow, evicting his disgraced younger brother and revoking his prince title, before unceremoniously kicking him out under the cover of darkness earlier this month. Now, he’s just a commoner, reports The Mirror.

Given the level of public outrage directed at Andrew through his association with Jeffrey Epstein, Charles was left with little option but to take decisive action. But it’s a decision his eldest son, Prince William, would have taken far earlier.

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According to the author, William’s negative view of his uncle long predated his very public fall from grace. The prince saw Andrew as a ‘bit of an ignoramus’ and questioned what he actually did. “But it was more than that.

He’d seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they’d never seen eye to eye,” Myers writes.

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But it was the ex-duke’s association with convicted paedophile Epstein that proved insurmountable. William strongly believed that immediate action should be taken following Andrew’s now-infamous Newsnight interview in 2019. While, unbelievably, Andrew believed the interview had ‘gone well’, it was widely seen as a disaster – not just for the then-prince, but for the monarchy at large.

Myers reveals that in the aftermath, William spoke to his father to implore him and the late Queen to take action – fearing not only the public backlash but for his own future. Both William and Kate were angered by Andrew’s failure to apologise for his connection to Epstein, or acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse, the new book reveals. They are both said to be wholly aligned on the subject of Andrew.

A source told the author that William thought Andrew should be removed from the picture immediately ‘before the rot set in further’. “William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family,” they said.

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Then, in August 2021, more humiliation came for the monarchy. Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein who died by suicide last year, filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in New York, alleging sexual assault when she was 17. The case, filed under the Child Victims Act, proceeded despite attempts to dismiss it. As a result, in January 2022, the late Queen stripped her second son of his honorary military titles, royal patronages, and the use of the “His Royal Highness” (HRH) style. The case was ultimately settled out of court the following month, with the Queen, Prince Philip and the then-Prince Charles reportedly loaning Andrew ÂŁ12million to pay Giuffre off.

Issues once again arose at Christmas time in 2023. The King extended an olive branch to Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and invited them both to Sandringham (it was Sarah’s first invite in 32 years).

Charles’s decision to bring his brother back into the family fold was something William fundamentally disagreed with and he challenged his father directly- however, a source with knowledge of the conversation said that William was “very much put in his place”.

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But, as the prince predicted, the harmony was short-lived. The start of 2024 saw renewed and intense scrutiny following the unsealing of US court documents brought in 2015 by Andrew’s accuser Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. It was claimed that then-Duke of York had indulged in ‘daily massages’ during frequent visits to Epstein’s Florida mansion. Allegations that he had taken part in an ‘underage orgy’ also resurfaced.

Outraged, William again implored the King to act, by stripping Andrew of his remaining titles and ‘banishing’ him from the family for good in order to protect the reputation of the institution. Charles, meanwhile, was believed to be attempting to honour the wishes of his late mother, the Queen, who believed that her second son would one day be exonerated. As such, he stopped short of pushing for his banishment. “By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.”

One palace source told Myers: “His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn’t be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere. Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family.”

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Then, in October 2025, a newly leaked email showed that Andrew told Epstein ‘we are in this together’ after a picture of the royal with his arm around a teenage Virginia Giuffre was first published in 2011. The email appeared to contradict his previous claim on BBC Newsnight that he had ceased contact with the convicted child sex offender by that point.

Days later, Andrew announced he was giving up his titles, including the Duke of York, following “discussion with the King”. In a statement, he said that the “continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family “.

Then, at the end of that same month, came the final blow. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew was losing his ‘Prince’ title, now becoming known as simply Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The palace also said Andrew has been served formal notice to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge, his 30-room Windsor mansion.

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Nevertheless, the ‘Andrew problem’ continues to haunt the royals. While he has now been whisked away to live in Sandringham, away from the public gaze, scandal continues to follow Andrew with the release of the most recent Epstein files. There are now calls for him to give evidence before the US Congress, while police have said they are investigating Andrew over reports he shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Epstein.

On 9 February, William and Kate broke their public silence over Andrew’s involvement in the Epstein files. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “I can confirm that the Prince and Princess of Wales have been deeply concerned by the continued revelations. Their thoughts remain focused on the victims.”

A short time later, Charles also issued a statement. “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a Palace spokesman said. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”

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It’s clear there is no way back for Andrew, with both the King and his heir now aligned on the matter. The decision to evict him from Royal Lodge under the cover of darkness earlier this month reportedly came after an “urgent meeting” held between Charles and William at Sandringham. The final straw, according to royal sources, was the sight of Andrew trotting around the Windsor estate on his horse, and waving at members of the public.

The disgraced former Prince made his last appearance with the royal family when he attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on 16 September 2025, accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. It was an extraordinary gathering. Andrew, laughing and smiling at times, was seen trying to strike up a conversation with William – to no avail.

Andrew, 65, continues to deny any wrongdoing. He is also said to be in complete denial about his dramatic fall from grace.

Extracted from WILLIAM AND CATHERINE by RUSSELL MYERS, published by Ebury Spotlight on February 26 at £22. Copyright © Russell Myers 2025.

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Winter Olympics 2026: Why Team GB are so good at skeleton

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Matt Weston and Martins Dukurs hug

So what do the British athletes put it down to? The answer is each other, their team camaraderie.

“We only get to slide down an ice track about 120-150 times a year. Each run is less than a minute, so you’re looking at less than two hours actually doing the sport every year,” Marcus Wyatt – who finished ninth in Cortina – told BBC Sport last year.

“But if you talk to other athletes, learn from their experiences and share what you’re doing, suddenly you’ve doubled, tripled, quadrupled your knowledge.

“In the last couple of years especially, me and Matt have bounced off each other, we’re sharing ideas.

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“The day before a race, I might be struggling on a corner, so I ask Matt, what are you doing on corner four? He tells me, I try that, it works for me, and lo and behold when the race comes, I might beat him.

“That’s fine, because he knows that next week when he’s struggling somewhere else, I’ll help him out and he might beat me.

“It’s this team ethos, working together, to get the best out of everyone.”

Weston adds: “I think that’s why we’re so good.

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“On the track, he’s the first person I want to beat, I’m the first person he wants to beat.

“But when we’re training, when we’re working stuff out, we work together so well, and I think that’s what separates us apart [from the rest].”

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Man arrested after Ferryhill Police Station ‘burglary’

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Man arrested after Ferryhill Police Station 'burglary'

Damage was caused to the Church Lane section office, which was empty at the time, and several police vehicles this morning (Saturday, February 14).

The suspect is believed to have left the building wearing a police stab vest before being approached by officers around 8.30am.

Durham Police confirmed a man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and assaulting two police officers.

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Three arrested over GMP domestic violence order crackdown

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Three arrested over GMP domestic violence order crackdown

The men were arrested across Wigan on Friday, February 13, just before Valentine’s Day, which police say can be a time of year when partners or exes reunite.

This comes just over a year after Domestic Abuse Protection Orders were introduced in Wigan in January 2025, with more than 120 such orders having been granted since then.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Bell, Wigan’s lead for safeguarding, said: “As we approach Valentine’s Day, we understand that this may be a time for partners or exes to reunite, and this can often lead to abuse.

“These arrests reinforce the message that GMP are committed to protecting victims and holding perpetrators to account.

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The arrested were in connection with Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (Image: GMP)

“Breaches of protection orders and any reports of domestic abuse will always be taken seriously and we will take swift action to protect those at risk.

“Safeguarding the public and our communities remains a priority for GMP, and we will continue to manage these protection orders to ensure offenders continue to see justice.”

Officers say the protection orders have been instrumental in ensuring robust safeguarding of repeat victims, and breaking cycles of violence and abuse.

Police were out making arrests (Image: GMP)

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of breach of his Domestic Abuse Protection Order.

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Officers say they believe he had gone into a home from where he has restricted access as listed in his DAPO.

One man was also arrested on suspicion of breach of his non-molestation order, and another man was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, damage of property, and harassment.

All three suspects remain in custody for questioning.

One of the three men has since been charged with breach of his harassment order.

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He was remanded in custody ahead of being brought before Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.

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Met Office issues new weekend weather warning for snow and ice

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Belfast Live

A brief period of snow may bring icy conditions and some disruption to travel.

The Met Office has issued another new weather warning for snow and ice affecting parts of Northern Ireland this weekend.

The weather forecaster issued the yellow warning on Saturday morning, February 14, and advised that “a brief period of snow may bring icy conditions and some disruption to travel”.

It has been issued for four counties with the warning in place from 5pm until 10pm on Saturday, February 14. The warning is in place for counties Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

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READ MORE: Northern Ireland roads record 49,000 defects in last three months aloneREAD MORE: Northern Ireland has been relentlessly miserable this year and there’s no sign of it ending

A Met Office spokesperson added: “Rain spreading from the west is expected to turn to snow for a time Saturday evening across the west of Northern Ireland. Whilst accumulations at low levels are likely to be limited, 2-4 cm of snow could fall above 200 m, affecting the Glenshane Pass for a time. At low levels some brief icy patches are possible.

“Snow will turn back to rain at all levels later Saturday evening before clearing eastwards by the end of the day, with a rapid thaw of any lying snow.”

What should I expect?

  • Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services
  • Perhaps some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

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Flood warning and alert in place for York city centre

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Flood warning and alert in place for York city centre

York residents have been warned to stay safe today and into tomorrow as high river levels mean that some areas of the city centre are at risk of becoming flooded.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued the warning for riverside properties on the River Ouse from Lendal Bridge to Millennium Bridge following days of heavy rainfall.


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At the Viking Recorder measuring station at 10.45am on Saturday (February 14), the River Ouse was 3.23 metres and said to be steady, despite sitting above the normal range of 1.9 metres.

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The highest recorded level here was 5.40 metres in November 2000.

A second amber flood alert has also been issued for riverside footpaths and low-lying land in York and to the south as far as Naburn Lock, including Kings Staith, Queens Staith, and South Esplanade.

“Flooding is possible today, Saturday 14th February 2026 and tomorrow, Sunday 15th February 2026. We are closely monitoring the situation, closing floodgates and operating the Foss Barrier. Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water,” said a spokesperson for the Environment Agency.

King’s Staith on Saturday morning (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Whilst river levels have been fluctuating between steady and falling, there is also a Met Office warning for snow and ice for most of North Yorkshire has been extended to 10am tomorrow (February 15) with snowfall currently expected from 4am to 9am.

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This warning is not in place over York itself, however surrounding towns such as Tadcaster, Malton, and Pocklington are included within the yellow weather warning.

For advice on what to do if you find yourself caught in a flood, visit the Environment Agency website or contact Floodline via telephone: 0345 988 1188 or via text on 0345 602 6340

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Winter Olympics 2026: GB women spring shock to beat world champions Canada

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Team GB's women's curlers

Both their previous matches got away from the British rink after the interval, but they maintained their momentum here.

Points were traded in the sixth and seventh ends before Morrison – growing in stature by the minute – delivered another two to move her side four clear going into the penultimate end.

Canada looked devoid of ideas. Homan, for whom Olympic gold has proved elusive throughout a stellar career, was floundering. One in the ninth left them needing a miracle but GB were not of a mind to let this one go.

The women will look to continue their unlikely revival on Sunday against another fancied rink, Sweden (13:05 GMT).

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They have six more round-robin matches to play, with a total of five or six wins potentially enough to clinch a semi-final place.

And GB’s men are next on the ice, playing their fourth match of nine against Czech Republic at 13:05 GMT on Saturday.

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Three things we learned from Chelsea FC win as Pedro Neto issues emphatic response on strange night for Liam Delap

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Three things we learned from Chelsea FC win as Pedro Neto issues emphatic response on strange night for Liam Delap

Rosenior spoke with a fondness this week when asked about his ties to the club, where his late grandmother, Cath, was a season ticket-holder. Rosenior had sat her down in a Harvester restaurant to tell her he was first signing for Hull, and she is buried not far from the club’s training ground.

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Team GB secure first gold at 2026 Winter Olympics as Matt Weston wins men’s singles skeleton | UK News

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Matt Weston after winning his gold medal. Pic: Reuters

Matt Weston has won gold in the men’s singles skeleton competition, Team GB’s first medal at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

The 28-year-old, a world and European champion, had been the favourite for gold after leading at the halfway stage of the event on Thursday, with track records in the first two heats.

On Friday, the British athlete posted another track record on his third run – recording a 0.39-second advantage at the top of the leaderboard.

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A near faultless run in his final heat at the Milano Cortina Games saw him increase his margin of victory to 0.88 seconds, bringing the gold home with a fourth track record.

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Weston completes his final run. Pic: Reuters

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Germany’s Axel Jungk took his second successive Olympic ⁠silver, ​while Jungk’s compatriot and ⁠defending champion Christopher ⁠Grotheer picked up ​the bronze.

Marcus Wyatt, Team GB’s other medal hopeful, finished ninth on Friday.

Matt Weston after winning his gold medal. Pic: Reuters
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Matt Weston after winning his gold medal. Pic: Reuters

Weston celebrates his victory. Pics: Reuters
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Weston celebrates his victory. Pics: Reuters

In March 2025, Weston took his second world champion crown and last month he clinched his third successive overall World Cup title.

His Olympic win marks the first-ever gold in the men’s skeleton for Team GB.

Explainer: Who is Matt Weston?

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Weston celebrates with the other medallists. Pic: Reuters
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Weston celebrates with the other medallists. Pic: Reuters

Weston made his debut in skeleton in 2019, previously competing in taekwondo and securing several European and international honours.

He continued in that discipline until the age of 17, when he retired due to injury.

Team GB supporters celebrate. Pics: Reuters
Image:
Team GB supporters celebrate. Pics: Reuters

Speaking after his skeleton win, Weston said: “[It means] everything. It means a hell of a lot to me personally. I have worked so hard for this.

“Everyone back at home, my fiancee, my family, my friends, everyone that has sacrificed for me to be here. I have missed funerals, birthdays, everything for this moment and it feels amazing.”

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer celebrated the victory, with the prime minister saying in a post on X: “History-making. Congratulations Matt Weston!”

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Team GB had won a medal in the skeleton at each of the Games since 2002 until 2018.

Lizzy Yarnold secured two golds, at Sochi in 2014 and PyeongChang in 2018, while Dom Parsons was Britain’s first male skeleton medallist since 1948 in South Korea, winning bronze in the men’s event, and Amy Williams won gold in 2010 in Vancouver.

Weston is the first individual male British competitor to win gold at a Winter Olympics since figure skater Robin Cousins in 1980.

His victory comes after Ukrainian competitor Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified 30 minutes before the start of the session on Thursday because he defied calls to not wear his “helmet of remembrance” depicting athletes killed since Russia’s invasion.

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UK warships will be deployed to Arctic, PM says, as he calls for closer EU ties

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UK warships will be deployed to Arctic, PM says, as he calls for closer EU ties

Sir Keir’s speech at the major security gathering followed an address by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hit out at the mistakes of Western nations over the past 40 years, but sought to reconcile ties between the US and Europe after recent turmoil in the transatlantic relationship.

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Winter Olympics 2026: Tensions rise in the curling after Sweden accuse Canada of double-tapping their stones

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Marc Kennedy

Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson and Canada’s Marc Kennedy exchange tense words after the Swedes accused the Canadian’s of double-tapping their stones during their men’s curling match at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

READ MORE: ‘I told him where to stick it’ – Canada and Sweden in curling row

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