Rugby star’s ‘inappropriate’ Prince Andrew joke on Zara Tindall’s day | Rugby | Sport

James Haskell, Mike Tindall’s former rugby team-mate, confessed to making an “inappropriate” joke about Prince Andrew “sweating.” The 40-year-old revealed his close ties to the Royal Family, specifically Princess Anne’s son-in-law. Speaking to The Times last year, Haskell admitted to cracking a joke at the wedding of Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips. He said: “I told a joke about when I was at Mike’s wedding: Prince Andrew was sweating up a storm on the dancefloor, but then he realised that everyone was over 18 so he left.”

Despite acknowledging its inappropriateness, Haskell found humour in the situation. His jest referred to Andrew’s links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Duke’s claim during his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis that he is physically unable to perspire. The beleaguered Royal has spent years vehemently denying any wrongdoing concerning his relationship with Epstein and the allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre, who described him as sweaty when they were together.

Andrew surrendered his Duke of York title on Friday. Reports now suggest that the Prince of Wales is unhappy with the outcome regarding Prince Andrew and plans to take a more severe stance towards his scandal-plagued uncle, potentially barring him from his future coronation.

The heir to the throne, William, was involved in the decision that led to Andrew surrendering his dukedom on Friday, but according to the Sunday Times, William is aware that the ‘Andrew problem’ will eventually land on his desk.

The outlet suggests that future king William will adopt a “more ruthless” approach and is currently “not satisfied with the outcome”.

Despite still being a prince and residing in the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion, Andrew released a personal statement on Friday stating he was relinquishing his Duke of York title and honours to avoid causing a distraction from the work of the monarch and the Royal family.

Ms Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, has called on the King to take further action and strip Andrew of his prince status.

Andrew’s strained relationship with his relatives was evident during the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September. He attempted to engage William in conversation, but his efforts were met with silence.

William did not respond to his uncle’s comments, standing beside him on the steps of Westminster Cathedral, staring straight ahead and barely acknowledging Andrew’s presence.

Previously, Charles had allowed his younger brother to attend his 2023 coronation. Andrew arrived wearing his Order of the Garter robes.

A year prior, the then-Duke of York paid millions to accuser Ms Giuffre to settle a civil sexual assault case, despite denying ever having met her.

Andrew has also relinquished his Garter knighthood, meaning he will no longer be able to wear his robes or attend the Order’s annual service at Windsor Castle each June.

There have been longstanding demands for Prince Andrew to be stripped of his dukedom, a title bestowed upon him by the late Queen on his wedding day in 1986, due to the ongoing controversy surrounding his connections with convicted sex offender Epstein.

The upcoming release of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs on Tuesday has heightened scrutiny on the sexual assault allegations, which Andrew denies, as well as his links to Epstein.

The prince’s ill-fated 2019 Newsnight interview, intended to clear his name, backfired when he expressed “no regret” over his friendship with convicted paedophile Epstein.

He faced severe backlash for his lack of empathy towards the sex offender’s victims.

Andrew also claimed he had “no recollection” of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and insisted he could not have had been with her in March 2001 as he was at Pizza Express with Beatrice on the alleged day.

Queen Elizabeth II was marking her platinum jubilee in 2022 – the first British monarch to achieve this milestone – as the civil case against her son intensified.

The settlement was reached just nine days after the Queen marked her 70th year on the throne.

Ms Giuffre, who tragically took her own life in April, disclosed in her memoir: “I agreed to a one-year gag order, which seemed important to the prince because it ensured that his mother’s platinum jubilee would not be tarnished any more than it already had been.”