Intro for February 23, 2026

Dear Gossips,

Prince William and Kate were in a couple’s outfit last night at the BAFTAs. He showed up in an oxblood velvet jacket while she was in a pink Gucci (that she’s worn before in 2019) with a velvet belt and clutch to match her husband. At one point William revealed that Kate had seen Hamnet the night before and cried her eyes out – standard reaction with this film – but that he’d yet to watch it because "I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment."

What? Are we supposed to feel bad for him or something? Everyone’s assuming that William not being in a “calm state” has to do with his uncle, Just Andrew, getting arrested last week, under investigation (finally) for his association with Jeffrey Epstein. After all, it’s the biggest headline about the British royals at the moment, and should remain that way, no matter what the couple is wearing, although I’m sure they were hoping that their appearance at a glamourous award show would be a distraction. At one point while walking the carpet, a journalist shouted “is the monarchy in peril?”

@vanityfair Prince William, BAFTA President since 2010, and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive at the 2026 #BAFTAs ♬ original sound - Vanity Fair

For decades the royal institution underestimated Andrew’s various liabilities and while, sure, some of that responsibility rests with the late queen who shielded him from accountability, it’s not like King Charles and William can wash their hands of him entirely. Though they have been trying to distance themselves from him, recently, we’ve seen them and their comms teams over the last several years devote much more energy to undermining, ahem, other members of their family, even appearing to use them as a way to deflect from Andrew’s messes. And now the catastrophe has landed, Just Andrew arrested and on the front page – here’s my favourite tabloid cover from the last few days…

It would appear that even the tabloids haven’t been able to find a way to link Harry’s book, or his and Meghan’s interview with Oprah, or Meghan’s jam to the scandal – because it’s impossible. Their estrangement from the British royal family has now become an asset, as they’re now an entire ocean and continent away from the ripple effect of the flop sweat glistening off the exteriors of every single palace.

Speaking of flop sweat, that image of Just Andrew flopped in the back of a car has now made it to the Louvre. I’ve enjoyed the Australian coverage of Andrew’s shame, especially in this clip from 7News Australia when the reporter can barely contain her amused disdain.

Stories about Andrew’s improprieties are now coming out of the woodwork. Just today the BBC, citing testimony from former civil services, reported that “Andrew charged taxpayers for massage services” and other extravagances. This was not a secret – it’s just that those expenses were buried across budget columns with the help of senior staffers. The point is, he’s been a Problem for a long, long, long time. And awareness of the Problem goes right to the top. Just because the king, now, has an issue with it doesn’t mean he wasn’t part of the enabling. 

Yours in gossip,

Lainey