Prince Andrew, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since losing his royal patronages amid scandal, appears unlikely to regain his royal status anytime soon. The Duke of York became the subject of sharp satire in the new West End stage production “By Royal Appointment”, currently playing at London’s Richmond Theatre.
The play, which began its four-night run this week, is inspired by the late Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with her personal dresser Angela Kelly. It humorously explores moments in royal history, including a tongue-in-cheek prediction about Prince Andrew’s future.
After confirming the Queen’s passing in 2022, the narrator amusingly speculated on Andrew’s prospects in 2026, declaring,
“The Duke of York has signed up for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.”
The audience erupted in laughter, underscoring the satirical tone of the production.
The show was written by Daisy Goodwin, creator of ITV’s Victoria, and spans events from Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969 to the present day.
Interestingly, Prince Andrew’s fictional reality TV stint wouldn’t be without precedent in the royal family. Princess Anne’s son-in-law, Mike Tindall, finished fourth on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2022. Other royal-connected figures like Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s former butler, and royal commentator Jennie Bond have also competed on the show, with Burrell finishing as runner-up and Bond coming second in previous series.
Currently, the 65-year-old Duke of York spends most of his time at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. He remains separated from his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, with whom he shares daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. The couple split in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
