In a week where King Charles hoped to project unity as a " bulwark against those promoting conflict, division and tyranny", his scandal-ridden brother reigned supreme.

The monarch flew to Rome on Wednesday for a historic state visit to the Vatican with Pope Leo — an elaborate event that had been in the royal calendar for months.

A photo of the two men praying together was supposed to send a message of accord between the two churches after a 500-year rift.

But the history-making moment inevitably took a back seat to the fraught political drama of the " Prince Andrew problem ".

Buckingham Palace is very clear that it does not act for the prince in any way. Instead, it was Andrew who said he would renounce his titles last week, at the urging of Charles and Prince William.

But if the

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