Six royal bombshells from new book – Andrew cut off to Queen’s plot for Harry and Meghan – Click to read more

A new version of an acclaimed royal book is poised to hit shelves – and it contains several fresh claims about the Firm.

Charles III. New King. New Court. The Inside Story by royal author and historian Robert Hardman was released earlier this year – but since then the royals have been grappling with the cancer diagnoses of the King and Princess of Wales, with the rift between the royals and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still raging.

Now, the book is being republished with several brand-new chapters covering the latest royal developments. And here we look at some of the most eye-raising new revelations in the updated version of the book…

Prince Andrew cut off

One of the most explosive claims in the new version of the book, which has been serialised in the Daily Mail, is that the King has cut financial ties to his younger brother Prince Andrew.

The book says that Andrew’s annual £1 million living allowance has been “withdrawn by Charles, in a move that will be seen as another step the King has taken to publicly distance himself from his younger brother following his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Hardman writes that the keeper of the privy purse was “instructed to sever his living allowance” after Andrew reportedly refused to move out of the Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, into the nearby smaller Frogmore Cottage. The duke was said to have signed a 75-lease on the Royal Lodge in 2003.

Citing an insider source, Mr Hardman writes: “The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King, confirms one familiar with the situation. He claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs – which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case. But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.”

It comes after reports the King was axing Andrew’s security at the Royal Lodge, which had been privately funded by Charles after his brother lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.

Queen’s plan for Harry and Meghan

Frogmore Cottage, the home reportedly being earmarked for Andrew, was formerly the UK residence of Harry and Meghan. Last year, the couple were forced to hand back the keys to the property at the request of the King as they had hardly used the home since they dramatically quit the UK to live in California.

Harry and Meghan handing back the property and potentially moving Andrew into it has been seen by many as a plan drawn up by the King. However, according to the updated book, this plan had actually been devised by the late Queen.

Citing an insider source, Mr Hardman said: “‘Had she lived another year, he would have been out’. It was her plan to move him out, to end the lease for the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage and to move Andrew in there. It was mainly a money thing, as she could see it was becoming unsustainable.’”

King’s legal fears over Harry

In another part of the serialisation, it is claimed King Charles’ fears over burying the hatchet with Prince Harry are due to the fact it could cause “serious legal jeopardy”.

The pair have long had a rocky relationship, especially since Harry and wife Meghan Markle quit their royal roles over four years ago and moved to the US. Last year, Harry also released his explosive memoir Spare, where he railed against his royal relatives, most notably his father and brother, Prince William.

Recent reports have suggested that they are no longer on speaking terms as Harry attempts to discuss his security arrangements in the UK with his dad. The Duke has been embroiled in a long-running battle over his security with the Home Office when he comes to the UK after he automatically lost the right to his police protection when he stepped down as a working royal.

He has lost his subsequent court battles to have it reinstated for him, wife Meghan and their two children and is planning an appeal. And according to a constitutional expert, it is said the King fears being dragged into Harry’s legal row – and could be left in an awkward position.

A constitutional adviser tells the author: “So imagine the situation if the Prince were to talk to his father about his court case and then later to describe that conversation – or, worse, a conversation which was not entirely accurate. There would be serious legal jeopardy. Harry would only have to say, ‘My father said this’ and a court case could collapse. That’s not just awkward. That’s bad. That is deep legal and constitutional jeopardy when you are head of state and of the judiciary and it is His Majesty’s Government.”

Kate’s faith amid health challenges

The updated book also covers the Princess of Wales and her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

And the serialisation claims that since facing her health challenges, Kate has become “more interested” in questions of faith. However, the book says that William does not share his father’s “interest in faith and spiritualism” or his late grandmother the Queen’s “solid devotion to the Anglican communion”.

Kate’s astonishment

As well as Kate’s cancer diagnosis, the updated book also covers the fallout over a Mother’s Day picture released earlier this year. Kate issued a public apology when the image William took of the princess with Prince George, Charlotte and Louis was found to have been digitally altered.

The family Mother’s Day portrait – the first official one showing Kate since her surgery – was withdrawn by picture agencies over concerns it had been manipulated after discrepancies were spotted in the photograph. According to the book, the fallout left the Waleses and their staff ‘astonished’ with an aide saying Kate had only wanted to bring joy to the nation by releasing the photo.

‘Radical’ change

Meanwhile, another claim from the book is that royal officials are reportedly considering “radical changes” that could see the term ‘Empire’ removed from British honours.

The move would allow anyone awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) to instead opt for an Order of British ‘Excellence’, while an alternative Order of Elizabeth, in memory of the late Queen, has also been suggested. But traditional colonial-era titles would reportedly still be available for those who wish to accept them.

Any changes to the current honours system would ultimately be decided by Keir Starmer’s government – but the updated book quotes a senior Palace official as saying: “Any change is a matter for the government, but I think that they would find that this place was pretty open to the idea.”