Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Favorite Child’ Not Prince Charles, Princess Anne

Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite child is neither Prince Charles nor Princess Anne.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were not hands-on parents for their first two children. However, their parenting skills have improved after welcoming Prince Andrew, who arrived in the family 10 years after Princess Anne was born.

According to Andre Morton in his book “Andrew: The Playboy Prince” the Duke of York had a special nickname for his nanny Mabel Anderson and mother. He both called them “Mamba.”

Anderson was Prince Andrew’s “constant companion.” She guarded him whenever Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip left him to visit Windsor for weekends. She made sure that the prince’s nursery routine won’t be disturbed.

However, Queen Elizabeth II looked forward to Prince Andrew’s nanny’s night off because she wanted to take over the job of looking after her son.

“The Queen looked forward to Mabel’s night off with relish,” Morton wrote.

“For then she could go to the nursery and bath and read stories to her favourite son.”

The Duke of York’s arrival in the royal family had been a great joy for everyone. Even Prince Philip who reportedly had a cold relationship with their eldest son Prince Charles warmed up to Prince Andrew. The Duke of Edinburgh used to play mock boxing with his second son. One time, Prince Andrew’s “boisterous” spirit had an unfortunate result when it left Prince Philip a “black eye.”

The incident happened on the same day Prince Philip had to attend a film premiere. They couldn’t hide or disguise his black eye so he spoke about it saying that he got it from “The Boss” pertaining to Prince Andrew.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also treated Prince Andrew differently from Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The couple realized that they didn’t want to expose the little Duke of York to the public as much as his older siblings because they saw its harmful effects to their children especially to the Prince of Wales who was a “shy youngster.”