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In the space of just a couple of weeks, the British royal family has been thrown into absolute chaos and uncertainty. Though Queen Elizabeth II still has the reins on her family, Prince Andrew’s expulsion from the royal family and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle’s shocking resignation means that a ton of things are up in the air for the royals.

Back in November 2019 — Prince Andrew horrified the world when he stood by his friendship with the late sex offender and financier, Jeffrey Epstein. The men had been friends for two decades, even after Epstein was convicted of soliciting sex from a minor in 2008.

Following Epstein’s death — questions rose about the prince’s own personal interactions with young women. Unfortunately, his interview with BBC Newsnight only rose the alarm for fans. As a result, the prince has been expelled from royal life, including the biggest royal event of the year.

Prince Andrew’s scandal has ousted him from the royal family

Before stepping down from his royal duties — the Duke of York has been dodging years of bad publicity. From his party boy reputations in his 20s to his divorced years where he ran the world with businessmen and celebrities — Prince Andrew’s royal status has kept him shielded until now.

“I think his reputation as the ‘partying prince’ was perfectly fair,” royal commentator Dicky Arbiter said. “In the interview [with Newsnight] he came across as arrogant and boorish and you don’t develop that over time, you are either born like that or you’re not. He might deny that he was a party-goer but pictures tell a million stories.”

Now that the prince’s luck has run out, he won’t even be able to attend Queen Elizabeth’s annual birthday celebration.

What is Trooping the Colour?

Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21. However, Trooping the Colour marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign — and it has for 260 years.

This year, Trooping the Colour will be held on June 13, 2020. The parade includes 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians. People line the streets to greet the royal family who arrive riding in on horseback and carriages.

There is also a 41-gun salute, so clearly the royals take this event quite seriously.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during Trooping The Colour, the Queen’s annual birthday parade, on June 08, 2019 in London, England. | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Andrew has been banned from Trooping the Colour

Prince Andrew has served as the Colonel of the Grenadier Guards at Trooping the Colour since 2017 when he took over for his father, Prince Philip. This meant the Duke of York rode in the parade alongside the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Kent.

However, we don’t expect to see Prince Andrew at Trooping the Colour at all this year. “Andrew is being replaced,” an insider told Daily Mail. “‘The Duke is in ‘suspended animation’, perhaps for a year, until everything is sorted out to the satisfaction of the top brass — assuming that it is.”

With the royals scrambling to figure out the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ departure, helping Prince Andrew rehab his image certainly isn’t a priority.

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