EXCLUSIVE: Radar Reveals Prince William's Withering Six-Word Assessment of Andrew Windsor's 'Filthy' Impact on Royal Family
Prince William attempted to have his uncle removed from the family, according to sources.
Feb. 21 2026, Published 4:00 p.m. ET
Prince William privately branded Prince Andrew's conduct "a stain on all the family" and pushed for his uncle to be banished from royal life "before the rot set in," RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The claims appear in William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story by royal reporter Russell Myers, who draws on palace insiders to detail the fallout from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview.
Prince William reportedly called his uncle’s behavior a 'stain on all the family' following the 2019 Newsnight interview.
In that broadcast, Andrew, 65, failed to express remorse over his association with convicted s-- offender Jeffrey Epstein and did not acknowledge the impact on Epstein's victims – a performance widely seen as catastrophic.
At the time, William was second in line to the throne, while his father, then Prince Charles, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, were said to favor a more protective approach.
Myers writes William believed the monarchy was "engaged in a full-scale firefight" in the wake of the interview and feared lasting damage to the institution's credibility.
According to his book, William urged both his father and grandmother to remove Andrew from public life permanently, convinced that the scandal posed an existential threat.
On Thursday, February 19, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office due to his connections to the vile pedo.
'A Stain on All of the Family'
Prince William is said to have urged Queen Elizabeth II and his father to banish then-Prince Andrew 'before the rot set in.'
A source quoted in the biography said: "Once you understand the fact that everything that happens in the here and now affects everything in the future, William's future, it is very easy to put yourself in his shoes. He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in. William's view was that (Andrew) got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family."
Another palace insider told Myers that William's position hardened as further allegations surfaced.
"The Prince of Wales was adamant the whole (Andrew/Epstein) episode would never go away, and, despite how others may have felt, there was absolutely no upside in Andrew being protected," the insider said. "His view was crystal clear: Andrew shouldn't be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere."
Detailing the withering six-word assessment William made over Andrew's behavior, the source added: "Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a 'stain on all of the family.'"
According to insiders familiar with internal discussions, William saw reputational damage against the royal family as cumulative.
"He believed each headline chipped away at public trust," one insider said. "In his mind, tolerating Andrew's presence – even privately – risked signaling complacency."
According to the biography, Prince William never particularly liked his uncle and considered him an 'ignoramus.'
Myers' book also details a reported clash between William and Charles, now 77, with one source claiming the now-king "put him in his place" during a tense exchange over how to handle Andrew.
Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing. He was stripped of military titles and royal patronages in 2022 and has since stepped back from public duties.
In a joint statement, William, 43, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, 44, said they were "deeply concerned by the continued revelations" involving Andrew, adding their thoughts "remain focused on the victims."
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The Prince and Princess of Wales issued a joint statement earlier this year expressing concern over continued revelations.
Myers writes: "I've spent almost a decade following The Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the Royal pack and have always believed there's so much more to the couple than the spectacle reveals.
"The result of this biography is a truly intimate portrait of William and Catherine, providing not just unparalleled insight into who they are as individuals, but seismic revelations about them as a couple and the world they inhabit.
"This biography moves beyond the headlines as it explores love, resilience, and their journey together as they navigate their public duties amid this unprecedented era."
William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story is published on February 26 by Ebury, Penguin Random House.
