The Major Ways Prince Andrew's Life Has Changed Since The Queen's Death

From childhood, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, had a tight connection with Queen Elizabeth. By the time Andrew was born in 1960, Elizabeth was comfortable with her royal responsibilities. In addition, with nearly 10 years between Andrew and his next oldest sibling, Anne, Princess Royal, the queen was seemingly excited to have a newborn at home again. "The baby is adorable," she wrote to a cousin at the time, per the Daily Mail. "He's going to be terribly spoilt by all of us, I'm sure."

Their mother-son closeness remained during the queen's final years, particularly amid the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Living at Royal Lodge just a short distance from Windsor Castle, he would see her on an almost daily basis," author Phil Dampier informed the Daily Mail. "He supported her when she was more frail, and was always there for her in person or on the phone whenever she needed him."

This support between mother and son was mutual, even during the fallout of Andrew's association with Jeffery Epstein. After Elizabeth died, Andrew missed having her as a confidante. In July 2023, Sarah Ferguson revealed that Andrew continued to mourn his parents. On her "Tea Talks" podcast, Andrew's ex-wife recounted how she asked Andrew how he was feeling during a walk with the queen's beloved corgis. "He said it's lonely. He thinks about it a lot," Fergie recalled.