Prince Andrew ‘DEMANDS to return to the spotlight’ but Prince William issues ‘ultimatum on his return’

PRINCE Andrew has called for a return to the limelight, but Prince William has given the family an ultimatum about his return, a source claimed.

It comes as the Duke of York was hidden as Charles and Camilla led the way at the Order of the Garter ceremony yesterday on behalf of the Queen.

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Andrew, who is hoping for a royal comeback, has been banned over fears of a public “backlash” after last-minute talks with his mum.

He was spotted yesterday, just hours after the snub, on his way to lunch with the Queen.

The 62-year-old looked dejected on his way from his home at Royal Lodge to a backstage meal at the castle.

Andrew had hoped to appear publicly at the ceremony alongside other royals and his name even appeared on the bylaws.

But in an 11-hour decision by Her Majesty, allegedly influenced by Charles and William, he was barred from the procession.

Andrew reportedly believes he is being denied his “birthright” by continuing to oppose his return to duty and is calling for a comeback.

Now a royal source has claimed that Prince William may have given an ultimatum from “him or me” before the service at St George’s Chapel.

A “family decision” is believed to have been made to keep the Duke hidden from the public.

A royal source told The Express: “William hasn’t figured out that with the hereditary monarchy you’re either attached or apart.”

The Queen reportedly ordered Andrew to stay out of sight “for his own good” after tense family talks.

Charles and William are said to have raised fears of a public “backlash” and possible boos if he was spotted in public at a royal engagement.

Andrew previously told those close to him it was a “personal choice” not to appear in public.

However, Buckingham Palace dismissed the claim, calling it a “family decision”.

The Duke’s reputation was severely tarnished by his involvement in a civilian sexual assault case.

However, he is reportedly planning a royal comeback after begging his mother to return his patronage and HRH title just five months after they were stripped from him.

“FAMILY DECISION”

He lost his honor amid the highly damaging case brought against him by sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, 38, which resulted in a multimillion-pound payout in February.

A source said: “He was confident and optimistic that he could make a comeback.”

But now the Duke will not attend the ceremony at St George’s Chapel with family members in their velvet robes or take the carriage back to Windsor Castle.

And his future as a working king remains up in the air.

The source added: “It was a decision by the household in the best interests of the family, but also in the best interests of the Duke of York.”

The Queen has previously signaled her support for Andrew – reportedly her favorite child – by attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in March with him.

Andrew offered her a steady arm as she went to Westminster Abbey to remember her husband’s life a few weeks after he reached the out-of-court settlement.

But there has been speculation that senior royals would not approve of his appearance and the monarch seems to have conceded.

It follows his retirement from public life following the uproar over his friendship with pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

He was later reported to have paid a woman he allegedly never met £12million to settle the civil sexual assault case.

The duke was ousted from the working monarchy after wife Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17, which Andrew denies.

He was due to join the wider royal family on the second of four days of platinum jubilee celebrations earlier this month at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

However, before the ceremony, it was announced that he had contracted Covid and was therefore no longer able to attend.