EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Windsor's 'Embarrassment' Blamed for Him 'Snubbing Royal Balmoral Reunion'

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly rejected King Charles' invitation to join the royal family's summer gathering at Balmoral – with palace sources exclusively telling Radaronline.com his "embarrassment" over his downfall has led him to skip the traditional event.

Shamed ex-Prince Andrew, 66, is said to have been offered the opportunity to join Charles, 77, and other relatives at the Scottish estate as up to 30 family members prepare to gather there over the coming month.

The invitation was widely reported as a potential opening for a family reconciliation after a bruising period in which Andrew lost his remaining royal status, left Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocated to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

But a friend of Andrew's has now told Radar in an exclusive interview: "There is an enormous amount of embarrassment about everything that has happened, and Andrew cannot imagine arriving at Balmoral and behaving as though life is normal. He believes everyone would be conscious of the scandals surrounding him and that he would spend the entire visit feeling like the uncomfortable presence nobody knows how to address."

Another royal source said: "The invitation represented a genuine opportunity for Andrew to be around his family again, but he doesn't believe he would really be returning to the fold.

"His view is that traveling to Scotland simply to feel isolated in a house full of relatives would be worse than remaining at Sandringham. He already feels abandoned and does not want another reminder of how dramatically his position within the family has changed."

Charles is believed not to have seen his younger brother this year, despite periodically staying close to him at Sandringham.

Andrew attended the traditional Balmoral gathering last summer, spending up to two weeks at the estate, but has subsequently faced further allegations concerning his relationship with convicted s-- offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing.

He is thought to have last mixed publicly with members of his family at the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who died aged 92, in September.

Charles stripped Andrew of his Prince and Duke of York titles in November before forcing him to leave Royal Lodge in February.

Andrew subsequently moved to the King's private Sandringham estate, where he has reportedly lived an increasingly isolated existence.

His former wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, and daughters Princess Beatrice, 38, and Princess Eugenie have reportedly not visited his new home at Marsh Farm.

Prince Edward is believed to be the only one of Andrew's siblings to have visited him since his departure from Windsor.

Andrew's difficulties deepened on his 66th birthday in February when he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Charles has already begun his annual summer break at Balmoral and is due to receive the traditional formal welcome at the castle this week.

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is among those expected to visit during the King's stay.

Balmoral has traditionally allowed the royal family to spend extended periods together away from their official duties, making Andrew's apparent decision to stay away particularly significant after months of reported isolation.

Epstein died aged 66 in a US jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal s---trafficking charges.

Andrew was released "under investigation" earlier this year after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegedly sharing sensitive information with his predator friend Epstein during his role as a trade envoy for Britain.