Whether they are willing to admit it or not, many parents have a favorite child.
And like many other families, the Queen also has a favorite son – and it is said to have caused a huge family rift.
Prince Charles is the next in line to the throne but royal experts say that he is not the golden boy in Her Majesty’s eyes.
The honor is actually held by the second eldest son, Prince Andrew.
This favoritism apparently caused a royal rift between the brothers. Their row is explored in the documentary ‘The Royal Family At War.’
Royal experts believe the monarch raised Prince Charles to be the next king. However, she is said to have a much more hands-on relationship with Prince Andrew.
Princess Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, said: “Andrew has always been the Queen’s favourite son and he has never done anything wrong in her eyes.”
Katie Nicholl, a royal author, told the documentary: “There is real tension between Charles and Andrew. Andrew has a very different relationship with his mother and the Queen was much more hands on.”
Journalist Penny Junor also said: “I think the Queen has always had a bit of a blindspot when it comes to Prince Andrew.”
Andrew was born while Charles was at a boarding school in Gordonstoun. When they finished their education, both of them enlisted in the Armed Forces.
The Prince of Wales spent five years as a captain in the Royal Navy.
His younger brother also joined the navy but his career managed to gain more attention. At the age of 22, Andrew was sent to fight in the Falkland Conflict. On Andrew’s return, he was greeted by the Queen as the ship pulled into the harbor.
“He came back a hero and was very much the golden boy of the royal family,” Nicholl said.
This was only the beginning of the rift between the brothers.
The Prince of Wales is said to be pushing for a slimmed-down monarchy while his younger brother was criticized for using his royal privileges for his own entertainment.
In 2011, Prince Andrew stepped down from his position as a UK trade envoy after he received criticism over his friendship with a controversial billionaire.
But one of the biggest blows to his position as a member of the royal family came when it was announced that his daughters’ security detail would no longer be paid.
During the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, only the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
“This was something that Andrew found hard to accept,” Junor said.
“Andrew wants to be a part of those appearances and it’s certainly lead to a fall out,” Nicholl added.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!