Prince Andrew made a rare and notable public appearance at Windsor’s Easter Sunday service, drawing attention for his determined positioning and confident body language, sparking commentary on his role within the Royal Family amidst ongoing controversies.
Prince Andrew made a rare public appearance at the annual Easter Sunday service held at Windsor, drawing attention due to his "forceful" gesture during the event, according to royal experts. The Duke of York has remained largely out of the public eye in recent years after choosing to step back from royal duties, with his appearances since then largely limited to significant Royal occasions such as funerals, weddings, and the recent coronation of his brother, King Charles III.
Royal commentator Robert Hardman told the Daily Mail that following the entrance of the King and Queen into the chapel, Prince Andrew positioned himself immediately behind them in the procession, overtaking the Dean of Windsor, the Reverend Christopher Cocksworth, who was leading the ceremony. Hardman described this as "a forceful reminder that, in this company at least, the Duke was first in the line of succession," highlighting the significance of Andrew's positioning during the service.
Andrew's attendance at the ceremony reportedly surprised many due to last year’s controversy linking him to an alleged Chinese spy, as noted in reports by Gloucestershire Live. Accompanying the Duke were his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, along with their two daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, and their husbands.
Professional lip-reader Jeremy Freeman observed several exchanges between Prince Andrew and his brother-in-law, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, during the service. While the exact conversation remained unclear, Freeman suggested there were references to the seating arrangements inside the church. Meanwhile, body language expert Judi James analysed Andrew's behaviour during the event, describing it as exhibiting "cocky arrogance". Speaking to SurreyLive, James remarked that the Duke's body language "made this look like his debutante’s coming out ball as he performed a kind royal quick-step to appear back in the role of second son to the late Queen."
James also noted a contrast between Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who displayed "newfound signals of Royal confidence" by waving to crowds, engaging warmly with clergy members, and exhibiting her usual animated manner. In contrast, Andrew appeared to have been waiting in the shadows of the chapel doorway before making a dramatic entrance once the rest of the Royal Family were in place. His posture—with an undone jacket and legs splayed in a display of confidence—was interpreted as signalling a desire to assert himself amid the gathering.
It remains unclear whether Prince Andrew will continue to make public appearances, particularly as questions regarding his role within the Royal Family persist. His attendance at the Easter Sunday service, however, marks a notable moment in his recent public life.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative refers to Prince Andrew's recent public appearance at the Easter Sunday service, mentions King Charles III's recent coronation, and references controversies from the previous year. These contextual details indicate the content is current and not recycled from past reports. No older press releases appear to be reused. The freshness score is high given the temporal markers and recent event focus.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes come from named experts such as royal commentator Robert Hardman, lip-reader Jeremy Freeman, and body language expert Judi James. These quotes appear original to the narrative with no earlier online references found for these specific statements, suggesting a first publication of these expert analyses and increasing credibility. The quotes are closely attributed and specific, improving verifiability.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a regional news outlet (SurreyLive) which is generally considered credible for local and national news but lacks the broad international reputation of a major global outlet. The inclusion of recognised royal commentators and experts adds reliability. Nonetheless, the source is not among the highest-tier global media, so moderate reliability is assigned.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims align with known facts about Prince Andrew’s reduced public role following controversies and recent Royal Family events such as King Charles III’s coronation. The behavioural interpretations by experts are plausible, and no extraordinary or unverifiable claims are made. The story fits established public knowledge and the timeline presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a timely, plausible account of Prince Andrew’s Easter Sunday appearance with well-attributed expert commentary. The information is current with references to recent events, and quotes appear original and specific. The regional news platform is reliable enough for this type of coverage, and no contradictions or signs of outdated or recycled content were found. Overall, the report stands as credible and up-to-date.
