LONDON | Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II, deprived of a royal role after accusations of sexual assault, was confined Monday to non-public events of the traditional ceremony of the Order of the Garter, the most prestigious of chivalry British.

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If he was invited to the investiture of the new companions and to the lunch, which are held in private, the Duke of York ultimately did not take part in the colorful public procession, to which he was however expected. a few hours earlier.

On the other hand, paraded at Windsor Castle (west of London) to St. George's Chapel, Crown Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and his eldest son William, dressed in the habit of the order of chivalry - a velvet coat closed by a chain and a hat decorated with white ostrich feathers.

Camilla was named Dame of the Order of the Garter by Elizabeth II at the end of 2021.

The public absence of Prince Andrew, who fell into disgrace after accusations of sexual assault which he ended by paying several million dollars, is a “family decision”, said the PA agency.

According to the British media, princes Charles and William would have pressured the queen in this direction while, according to the Telegraph, prince Andrew, often presented as the favorite of the sovereign, would like to return to his royal functions.

The Queen appeared to lend her support to the Duke of York at the end of March when she arrived on his arm at a religious ceremony in honor of husband Philip, who died last year, which drew criticism.

Due to mobility problems, Elizabeth II, who passed the historic milestone of 70 years of reign this year, was also absent from Monday's procession, an annual appointment on the royal calendar.

Protesters have also expressed their hostility towards former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2007), knighted a companion of the order last December. They accused the former leader, who headed the British government during the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, of being a “war criminal”.

The Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III in 1348, during the Hundred Years' War, and its motto, in French, is 'honi soi qui mal y pense' ('honi' here only takes a only n according to a long tradition).