Princess of Wales Steps Forward as Royal Family Faces Turmoil Amid Prince Andrew’s Arrest

The Princess of Wales made her presence felt at the England vs. Ireland rugby match this afternoon, showing her support for the team amidst the shocking arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Kate took her seat at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium today, as the royal family grapples with one of its most challenging situations in recent memory.

Before the game began, she was seen chatting and sharing a laugh with injured England player Fin Baxter, brightening the atmosphere.

Attending the rugby match as the patron of England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU), the Princess maintained her upbeat demeanor, even as England faced a tough start, falling behind 22-0 to Ireland.

Sporting a long blue coat paired with an England RFU scarf, this outing marked her first public appearance since the arrest by Thames Valley Police of the former prince.

The match marked the second week in the Six Nations tournament, with Wales due to take on Scotland from 4.40pm.

Princess Anne, who is the patron of the Scottish RFU, is expected to attend that fixture at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Despite her good spirits, Catherine’s presence did little to help a struggling England side.

Skipper Maro Itoje celebrated his 100th cap but it turned into an afternoon he will want to forget after his side went down 42-21, the second defeat in a row. 

The Princess of Wales’s appearance comes after it was warned today that it is up to her and Prince William to save the royal family, with pressure ‘falling squarely’ on their shoulders to rebuild its ‘integrity’ after Andrew’s arrest.

The Princess of Wales arrived to cheer on the England rugby team in their match against Ireland this afternoon, continuing with her planned engagements in the wake of the unprecedented arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The Princess of Wales attended the match in her role as patron of the England RFU

Kate sat in the stands at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham today, as the royal family continues to reel from its most serious crisis in modern history (Pictured with Deborah Griffin, President of England RFU)

The Princess of Wales with injured England player Fin Baxter in the stands before the Guinness Men’s Six Nations match at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham today

The princess dressed in a long blue coat and wore a matching England scarf around her neck

The trip to Twickenham was her first public appearance since Thames Valley Police officers arrested the former prince

Princess Anne takes her place in the stands at the Principality stadium in Cardiff ahead of the match between Wales and Scotland

The King’s younger brother was detained by officers on suspicion of misconduct in public office for around 11 hours on Thursday. 

William and Kate, as the future of the monarchy, will now need to set out their vision for the institution over the next 50 years in a bid to save its reputation following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Accusations over Andrew’s links to Epstein have plagued the family for years and finally came to a head with the release of files from his estate by the US Department of Justice. 

Some appeared to show the eighth-in-line to the throne sharing sensitive information during his time as a trade envoy.

With the former prince’s approval rating at a record low over his relationship with the convicted paedophile, crisis consultant Mark Borkowski has said William and Kate face having to somehow ‘establish the integrity of the royal family’.

He added: ‘Really, what do William and Kate do? What do their generation do with the crown, with all its soft power, its affairs of state, it’s beginning to feel a little bit like a European monarchy.

‘The pressure on William to communicate what the royal family is going to be over the next 50 years falls squarely on his shoulders.

‘The heavy weight of this burden on the royal family’s reputation lies with William and Kate and what they’re going to do.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known to be Andrew’s biggest critics behind closed doors, made clear this week they supported the King’s statement that ‘the law must take its course’ in relation to William’s uncle.

The statement, which came just two hours after Andrew’s arrest by officers from Thames Valley Police was confirmed, was unprecedented in the history of the royal family and came uncharacteristically quickly. 

The couple have been in lockstep with the King’s decisions to distance the royal family from Andrew, with Charles first stripping his brother of his titles last year.

The princess applauds during the rugby match between England and Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday

Kate chatted with England’s Fin Baxter before the match – he is currently out with injury

The Princess of Wales was seen laughing and joking with Baxter in the stands at Twickenham

She was also seen laughing cheerfully while speaking with President of England’s RFU, Deborah Griffin (left)

The Princess of Wales joins the crowd in singing the national anthem prior to kickoff

Kate showed few signs of strain just 48 hours after the arrest of her husband’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Charles revealed the police would have his ‘wholehearted support and co-operation’ and expressed his ‘deepest concern’. 

‘I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,’ he said. 

‘What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.

‘Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.

‘As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all’. 

It is understood the couple were fully supportive of the statement, although neither William nor Kate have addressed recent events head on. 

William has already said ‘change is on my agenda’ when he comes to the throne but he may have to open himself and the monarchy up to greater scrutiny as long-held attitudes towards the royal family die out. 

As they lead the monarchy into the future, public opinion is all-important, with its authority ultimately founded on the support and goodwill of ordinary men and women.

The Princess of Wales reacts during today’s Six Nations rugby match between England and Ireland

The Princess of Wales with RFU President Deborah Griffin in the stands before the Guinness Men’s Six Nations match at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham

The Princess of Wales clasps her hands as she enjoys the fixture at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Saturday

Kate celebrates after England player Fraser Dingwall scores just before half time

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known to be Andrew’s biggest critics behind closed doors, made clear this week they supported the King’s statement that ‘the law must take its course’ in relation to William’s uncle

Andrew is pictured leaving Aylsham police station in Norfolk shortly after 7pm on Thursday following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office

A police officer stood on Royal Lodge’s grand patio on Friday as searches at Andrew’s former home entered a second day

The deference towards members of the monarchy, who live in palaces, are chauffeured to events and have personal fortunes, has persisted for centuries and helps sustain them.

But the arrest, and possible prosecution, of one of its senior members threatens all that.

The former Duke of York was held after an early raid on his Sandringham home on Thursday on his 66th birthday.

He looked visibly shocked as he left Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk that night,  having been processed like a ‘common criminal suspect’.

Officers from Thames Valley Police descended on Wood Farm at 8am and spent the day searching the Norfolk property, as well as the Royal Lodge in Windsor. Searches there will continue until Monday. 

Detectives are probing Andrew’s conduct as a trade envoy for the UK, after emails in the Epstein Files suggested he may have shared confidential information with his paedophile friend, including reports of his official visits and potential investment opportunities.

After serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy, he became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001.

He stepped down in 2011 amid the furore over his friendship with Epstein.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.

One email, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel.

Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Experts have also suggested that the search of properties linked to the former prince may allow detectives to widen any investigations into claims of any sexual offences. 

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his relationship with Epstein or claims of sexual offences.