Prince William admitted he was not in a “calm state” during his first public appearance since the arrest of his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, revealing the emotional toll the royal scandal has taken on the family.
The Prince of Wales made the candid confession Sunday evening while walking the red carpet at the British Academy Film Awards at London’s Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall alongside his wife, Kate Middleton. The appearance marked their first joint public outing since the Princess of Wales completed her cancer treatment—and their first joint BAFTA appearance in three years.
When asked by reporters if he had watched “Hamnet,” the Shakespearean drama directed by Chloé Zhao, William—who serves as president of BAFTA—acknowledged the weight of recent events.
“I need to be in quite a calm state, and I am not at the moment. I will save it,” William told the Daily Mail.
Kate, however, had watched the film the night before, which left her in what William described as “floods of tears.” The Princess of Wales, 44, dazzled in a recycled pink Gucci gown from 2019 with a burgundy velvet belt, calling the emotional film a “bad idea” that left her with “very puffy eyes.”
The glamorous appearance comes just three days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, February 19—his 66th birthday—on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Thames Valley Police detained the former prince at his residence on the Sandringham Estate, holding him for nearly 11 hours before releasing him under investigation. Searches continued at Royal Lodge and other properties.
Andrew’s arrest stems from emails released by the Department of Justice as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which appeared to show him sharing reports of official trade visits with the disgraced financier while serving as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Epstein died by apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. Andrew, who remains eighth in line to the throne, became the first senior British royal arrested in nearly 400 years—since King Charles I in the 17th century.
King Charles III, 77, issued a statement expressing his “deepest concern” about his brother’s arrest while emphasizing the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold. The King stressed that “the law must take its course” and pledged the palace’s “full and wholehearted support and co-operation” with authorities.
The government is now considering removing Andrew from the line of succession. The last royal removed was Edward VIII when he abdicated in 1936, allowing Queen Elizabeth II’s father to become king in his place.
Despite the family turmoil, the royals have maintained their public commitments. Kate Middleton attended a Six Nations rugby match Saturday at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, where Ireland defeated England 42-21. She attended without Prince William, who had recently returned from a three-day diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia.
King Charles, who is battling cancer, surprised attendees by opening London Fashion Week on Thursday at 180 Strand—the same day as Andrew’s arrest. The monarch sat front row at British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker’s show alongside Stella McCartney and British Fashion Council CEO Laura Weir. Insiders described the King as maintaining high spirits despite his health challenges and the family crisis.
Body language expert Judi James analyzed the Wales couple’s red carpet appearance, noting they were “clearly more tactile than usual.” A viral moment captured Kate playfully tapping William on his behind—a gesture James interpreted as a subtle choreography cue between the couple, describing their styling as giving them “the look of an A-list power couple.”
Royal insiders suggest William feels frustrated by the scandal, which they describe as a lingering problem likely to remain on his plate when he eventually becomes King. Sources close to the palace say King Charles has found encouragement in William’s conduct during the crisis, particularly praising how the Prince of Wales carried himself during his recent overseas visit amid the family turmoil.
Yet despite the pressure, both William and Kate demonstrated their commitment to royal duties. The BAFTA appearance—their first major joint event since her cancer diagnosis—signals the couple’s determination to present a united front during what insiders call one of the most challenging periods for the monarchy in recent memory.