Kate Middleton and Prince William’s explosive new move amid calls for King Charles to abdicate

As distrust in the monarchy reaches an all-time high, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been forced to take drastic measures

While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest last week may have been the tip of the iceberg, there’s no doubt that the Royal Family have already been plunged into what could be set to another annus horribilis for the Crown.

As he was photographed in the back of a police car last week with an expression of shock; the disgraced former Duke of York, for all of his continued denials and rumoured annoyance at the repercussions that have befallen him so far, appeared to truly grasp the seriousness of his situation.

Following his arrest at his home of Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate for alleged misconduct while in public office, Andrew, 66, was then taken to a local Norfolk police station before being released.

Hours after Andrew’s arrest, King Charles, 77, released what appeared to be a very telling statement, declaring that the investigating team would receive his ‘full and whole-hearted support and cooperation’, adding, ‘The law must take its course’.

Now, while his statement made clear that he plans to answer any inquires the police may have with full transparency, one burning question remains: Is it all too little, too late?

Whilst Andrew’s name has been front and centre of headlines this week, there have been an increasing number of reports asking how much Charles had been aware of his brother’s alleged behaviour, and even calls from the public for Charles to abdicate.

‘If the monarchy is to survive, there is only one solution: King Charles must go,’ wrote a columnist last week.

Meanwhile former royal butler Paul Burrell added, ‘The monarchy has to be bigger than any one person, so it’s in safe hands if it goes to William.’

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing, but at a time where the public trust in the monarchy is on a knife’s edge, a source tells us there is a sense of ‘panic’ at the palace over what this could all mean for the future of the Crown.

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An insider says, ‘There’s a feeling of panic behind palace walls right now, it feels like the hounds are at the door because more and more people are saying this could spell the end of the public’s support for the Crown.

‘It does seem like the gates are just opening and that more and more is going to come out. He’s now being accused of bringing a woman who was being trafficked by Epstein in and out of the Palace, right under the Queen’s nose. It’s hard to fathom that she wouldn’t have been made aware, and Charles too.’

Meanwhile, Prince William, 43, and Kate Middleton, 44, have maintained the late Queen’s mantra of ‘Never complain, never explain’.

Making a brief statement earlier this month, a spokesperson for the Wales’ said the couple had been left ‘deeply concerned’ over the on-going revelations. But with calls for Charles to abdicate and let William become King, pressure on the pair to step up and take the lead on the situation has been mounting.

And the source says Heir Apparent William and Kate have now been forced to make an explosive new move, as we’re told, ‘The monarchy is in survival mode, and William and Kate do feel it’s on their shoulders to right the ship.’

The insider explains, ‘They have let it be known the only way forward is full accountability and transparency. They want a full investigation and the want the details made public; they aren’t going to cover for Andrew, or anyone. They are fighting for their futures right now and taking a very hard stance on this.’

Last week the couple attended the BAFTAS Awards, dressed elegantly in matching shades of burgundy and pink. However, onlookers were quick to note how tired they looked.

‘The Princess looked so elegant but you can see that this is all causing strain and that’s the last thing she needs’, a source present at the event said.

Meanwhile, William was unexpectedly candid. When asked if he had watched Hamnet – the fictional portrayal of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s grief over losing their young son – he replied, ‘I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment.’

And the source says that with Charles still receiving ongoing treatment for cancer, Kate and William know that how they act now could prove crucial to the future of the monarchy.

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‘You just have to look at William and Kate to see the amount of stress this is causing them. After their appearance at the BAFTAs, it was all anyone could talk about; they both looked so worn down,’ the insider says.

‘William even admitted as much when he was asked how he was coping. Fact is, the way they handle this crisis is going to define their future roles, so every move they make at this stage is crucial. It’s no exaggeration to say the survival of the monarchy is at stake and it’s William and Kate that have been left holding the bag.’

It’s now been four years since the late Queen is reported to have loaned Andrew £12 million to ‘pay off’ Virginia Giuffre, the young woman who accused him of having sex with her when she was underage by US law and died by suicide last year.

At the time the Queen, who died seven months later, is said to have loaned Andrew £7 million, while another £3 million is believed to have come from the late Prince Philip’s Estate and £1.5 from his older brother, King Charles, with other unnamed royals ‘chipping in’.

And his participation may now have come back to haunt Charles, with the source claiming that William’s reputation could also be at risk if he is seen to turn a blind eye going forward.

The insider says, ‘There’s a huge amount of anger building amongst the public because people simply cannot understand how this was allowed to go on for so long without intervention. The calls for Andrew to face some accountability went unanswered for years.

‘Charles is facing immense criticism over how this was handled and that’s going to have a trickle-down effect for William. Even people who’ve historically supported the monarchy are now asking uncomfortable questions.’

‘That’s the reality of the situation they are inheriting. Even though they had no role in creating this mess they’re being judged for it and it’s totally on their shoulders to fix it and salvage what’s left of their family’s reputation and save the institution.’

Now, the source says William is adamant that no stone be left unturned when it comes to the investigation.

‘There’s no quick fix to this, which is part of what makes the pressure so intense. Rebuilding trust in the monarchy is going to take a long time,’ we’re told.

‘But William feels strongly that trying to minimise what happened would only deepen public skepticism, which is why he’s pushing for full accountability for anyone involved, even if it means his uncle spends time behind bars.’

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