The King has spoken! WILLS & KATE'S BIGGEST TEST

Playing happy families with the disgraced Duke of York has been a challenge for the heir

- Judy Kean

They've made a real impression in the year they've been the Prince and Princess of Wales, but William and Kate are having to face up to the fact that despite their move up the royal ranks, it's still the King who calls the shots. And that means sometimes they have to do things they'd prefer not to in the name of duty.

A case in point occurred when the royals were all on holiday together at Balmoral Castle a couple of weeks ago. It came as a shock when William was spotted driving his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew to a church service at nearby Crathie Kirk.

William is not his uncle's biggest fan, and was one of the people who was most outspoken when it came to getting the Duke of York stripped of his titles and patronages following the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal.

According to a palace source, William, 41, has made it very clear to courtiers and other members of the royal family that he does not want to be seen with Andrew, 63, in public. Last year, he even threatened that he and Kate, 41, would boycott the traditional Garter Day parade at Windsor Castle if Andrew was allowed to take part.

The late Queen had apparently wanted her second son - who had recently settled a case out of court with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually assaulted her - to be included in the procession, but was lobbied by a furious William and his father, then Prince Charles, who said there would be a backlash from the public. Her Majesty changed her mind and Andrew stayed out of the public eye.