“Britain’s Royal Family needs a reset to counter the damage”
King Charles and Prince William have been warned that the future of the monarchy is at risk unless decisive action is taken in the wake of the Andrew scandal.
The warning comes from royal expert Richard Palmer, who says the issue has become a long-term threat rather than a passing controversy.
Writing on his Substack, Palmer argues that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s misconduct could force the House of Windsor to accelerate its transformation into a smaller, more modern monarchy. He suggests this shift may need to happen even before Prince William eventually becomes king.
Palmer notes that the past 15 years have shown one clear pattern: the scandal never truly disappears. It may fade from the headlines for a time, but it always resurfaces, often with renewed intensity.
When it does, he says, it damages public trust well beyond the Royal Family. The fallout has affected confidence in institutions ranging from Parliament and the police to major international banks, with the monarchy inevitably caught in the same storm.
According to Palmer, this is why urgent action is needed. He says the Royal Family must reset its approach to limit the reputational harm caused by the Epstein scandal.
He also points out that there have been rare moments when the monarchy acted ahead of public pressure. These include King Charles stripping Andrew of his royal titles and honours, and Buckingham Palace later signalling openness to a fresh police investigation.
Palmer’s message to King Charles and Prince William is clear: to move forward, the monarchy can no longer be reactive. It must take the initiative if it hopes to protect its future.
