Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stayed off the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour on Saturday, June 13—an absence that arrives months after his February arrest tied to his longtime friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. While King Charles III celebrated
For the 2026 Trooping the Colour celebration on Saturday, June 13, the Buckingham Palace balcony looked like a royal family portrait—one missing a familiar face.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor did not join the royal family for the balcony appearance during King Charles III’s annual birthday parade and military flypast.
Charles celebrated alongside his wife, Queen Camilla. Also on the day’s royal lineup was his son, Prince William, accompanied by Princess Kate Middleton and their three children: Prince George, 12; Princess Charlotte, 11; and Prince Louis, 7.
Trooping the Colour takes place in London every June to mark the monarch’s birthday, even though Charles’s actual birthday falls in November. This year, the ceremony honored him with the Horse Guards Parade.
Andrew’s absence landed in the same year that has kept him under intense scrutiny. It comes months after he was arrested by the Thames Valley Police this past February. when authorities confirmed he was taken into custody on “suspicion of misconduct in public office.” The allegation tied to his longstanding friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Before that arrest, police confirmed to the BBC that they were looking into claims that the former Duke of York shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as a U.K. trade envoy.
The legal pressure has not stayed still. The investigation into Andrew has since expanded to include accusations of sexual misconduct. In May. Thames Valley Police confirmed they were looking into reports that “a woman was taken to an address in Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes.” They also confirmed that they had spoken to the woman’s legal council.
In the continuing probe, authorities said they were working alongside the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service and the United States Department of Justice.
Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement last night. “Our team of very experienced detectives are working meticulously through a significant amount of information that has come in from the public and other sources. ” adding that. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into all reasonable lines of enquiry. wherever they may lead.”.
Andrew has been under fire for years because of his close connection to Epstein, who died in 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges.
The broader fallout has already reached the official royal structure. In October 2025, King Charles stripped Andrew of his official royal titles. At the time. Buckingham Palace said Andrew would be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and that his lease on Royal Lodge had “provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.” The palace added that formal notice had been served to surrender the lease and that he would move to alternative private accommodation.
Those censures, Buckingham Palace said, were “deemed necessary,” despite Andrew continuing to deny the allegations against him. The statement ended by saying. “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been. and will remain. with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”.
On June 13, as Charles marked his birthday parade and flypast with the rest of his family in view, Andrew’s name wasn’t part of the balcony lineup—its absence setting its own tone against months of ongoing legal scrutiny.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Trooping the Colour 2026 Buckingham Palace balcony King Charles III Queen Camilla Prince William Princess Kate Middleton Prince George Princess Charlotte Prince Louis Thames Valley Police Jeffrey Epstein Crown Prosecution Service United States Department of Justice Royal Lodge lease October 2025 stripped titles
So he was “missing” like a vibe check? Seems pretty obvious why.
Trooping the Colour is literally supposed to be the happy parade and he’s not on the balcony… weird timing. Also I keep hearing Epstein stuff and now this, like the royals can’t catch a break.
Wait did they arrest him at Buckingham Palace? Or was that like in Windsor? I’m lost on the dates but it says Feb and then June and he’s just not there so I mean… yeah. Feels like they’re quietly hiding him.
Trooping the Colour honors Charles but Charles birthday is in November right? So they do it anyway and then Andrew gets skipped… seems like royal politics more than justice. Like they’re trying to look normal while investigations are still going. Also “suspicion” is doing a lot of work there lol