Why was Prince Andrew always regarded as the Queen's favourite child?

[SpaEnjoyer]

I remember that Andrew was often referred to as the Queen's favourite child when she was alive, and before he was managed out of public life for being such an embarrassment to the family. He wasn't her firstborn DC or even her first son. So why did she prefer him to all the others?

BTW I certainly do not believe HMQ had an affair or disregarded her vows in any way.

I think it’s unlikely QE2 had an affair too. But if Phillip was a cheater, as is commonly believed, I think it’s kind of sad that the Queen didn’t have someone else in her life. Serial cheaters actually don’t love the person they are cheating on. It’s not true love when you repeatedly hurt someone in that way.

As to Andrew’s paternity, his eyes are much like those of his father Phillip. They aren’t as obvious in Andrew’s fatter face.

I'd say he was favored by Philip more than the Queen.

Philip was very rah rah / Spartan-Gordonstoun/ alpha, and Charles was not, God love him. He was extremely fond of Anne, who was made of sterner stuff.

By the time Andrew came along, he probably saw Charles as a lost cause, and pinned his hopes on him as a son who would fit the mould he had in mind.

Edward looks so much like Charles in this photo! I thought at first it was a young picture of His Majesty.

Yes, despite Philip's macho objections to Charles' sensitivity, he seemed more at ease w Edward. Probably only heightened as the Wessexes proved to be the happiest & most stable of those couples.

As pp have said, all the royal family and aristocracy have common ancestry. Did a quick Google, and found Porchey and QE2 had a common ancestor on George III, and through his grandson, Edward, Duke of Kent & Strathearn.

Andrew has a long face like his German ancestors, and looks a bit like Victoria, I agree.

Yes - most definitely. Those Hanoverian genes are very dominant. If you look at Beatrice she really has the eyes you see on them all - especially Queen Victoria.

Completely kaiboshes the Porchester nonsense. As if.

I know it’s all idle speculation but I think KC is like his grandfather, KG6 in character. He was famously shy and found public life difficult. He also needed the support of his strong wife to survive his role, rather as Camilla clearly supports Charles.

But she didn't like that sort of vulnerability. She wouldn't have been attracted to that at all.

She was all about duty as well so there's no way she would've had another man's child within marriage.

The Crown has a lot to answer for.

The trope that Andrew was the Queen’s favourite has been around for decades. I think it came from the way the Queen appeared more relaxed and happy in his early years than she had with Charles and Anne, 10 years earlier. I’m cynical about him being her favourite, still think it’s a media invention.

Yes I agree. The media have always made a thing about who was whose favourite. There’s absolutely no evidence that any of them were favoured. I have an easier relationship with one of my DC just because of their temperament but they’re all equally loved.

Yes thats what i meant Andrew when he was younger looked like his Dad and brothers. But hes got fatter and doesn't look so much like them.

I have an easier relationship with one of my DC just because of their temperament

Yes I have one who is "easier" than the other.

The "less easy" one I am more often out & about with due to shared interests though.

That & they still live at home!

My “less easy” one lives nearest to us and is the first to come to our aid when needed. However tricky our relationship at times, the love will always be there.

Because the Queen became monarch unexpectedly at the age of 25 when Charles was 3½ and Anne was 1½ I don't think she got to spend much time with them growing up. But when Andrew came along a decade after Anne she had settled into her role and could enjoy it more.

I always assumed that the favourite child/grandson stuff is just media spin.

Maybe she found him more appealing because he was the best looking one

@CoffeeCantata she has very large beautiful eyes doesnt she.

She had her heir and spare, and then The Nonce arrived 10 years later after Anne. She had time to spend with him, he didn't have as much royal pressure on him to become king one day.

What!???

Are you inferring that our late (very late) Queen had an affair? How dare you make such an insinuation against our Paddington-loving, corgi-owning, grandma to the nation (deceased). Shame on you.

According to the recent biography, he was the favourite because the Queen knew how vulnerable he was because of his behavioural issues.

Good grief. She was just a human being. Who knows what she was like. She was not some sort of deity

My post is tongue in cheek.or at least meant to be. It seems I failed abysmally.

Its widely accepted neurodiversity runs in the Royal Family. William and Catherine (and their team) have managed to raise two impeccably behaved children in George and Charlotte, but Louis is seen being cheeky / hyper / openly bored / fidgety / is left behind at home rather than attending some events…It’s not the nurturing, it’s the nature of the child. Personally I see a lot of parallels between him and my youngest who is AuDHD. OR perhaps maybe he is just a normal 5/6/7 year old at a long and boring event. It doesn’t make him a bad child 🙄

Sorry!

I usually get it!