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    Queen Elizabeth's "Unconditional Love" for One Royal Family Member Became Her "Tragic Flaw," According to Royal Expert

    "Achilles had his heel. Othello was plagued by jealousy. Caesar had Brutus. And Queen Elizabeth II?"

    Amy Mackelden#039;s avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 23 May 2026 In News

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    Queen Elizabeth wears a scarlet coat and matching hat with feathers in it and looks tearful
    (Image credit: Dan Kitwood - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
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    Queen Elizabeth remains loved by people around the globe. When she died on September 8, 2022, tributes poured in from royal fans worldwide. Even though the late monarch is remembered positively for a smorgasbord of reasons, she wasn't without her flaws, per one royal expert.

    Writing for the Express, deputy royal editor Rebecca Russell referenced a memo from 2000 released earlier this week, which revealed that Queen Elizabeth lobbied for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's role as trade envoy. The former Duke of York would go on to become the U.K.'s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

    "[E]very legendary leader has to have a tragic flaw," Russell wrote for the Express. "Achilles had his heel. Othello was plagued by jealousy. Caesar had Brutus. And Queen Elizabeth II? She had Andrew."

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    Queen Elizabeth wearing a pale blue coat and hat talking to Prince Andrew on a balcony

    "Every legendary leader has to have a tragic flaw."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Importantly, Russell celebrated the late monarch's many successes and the fact she "weathered countless storms," "economic crises," and multiple Royal Family dramas.

    "She truly was impeccable; there will never be another like her, and she'd be a daunting act to follow for anyone," the royal expert noted. "But in the same breath, it's not treacherous to admit that she had a blind spot."

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    Of course, no-one is perfect. But Queen Elizabeth's so-called "flaw" allegedly allowed her disgraced son to benefit from his royal status.

    As Russell explained, "It's just unfortunate that her [flaw] came in the shape of a second son with an insufferable sense of self-entitlement and a stalwart refusal to show even the faintest whiff of sympathy for the suffering of others, namely [Jeffrey] Epstein's victims, despite being given every opportunity to do so."

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    Queen Elizabeth waving in a carriage in a pink hat and coat next to ex-Prince Andrew

    "It's just unfortunate that her [flaw] came in the shape of a second son with an insufferable sense of self-entitlement."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Russell called the release of additional details about Queen Elizabeth's undying support for Andrew as "the ghost of that unconditional love." When it came to the former duke, Queen Elizabeth was reportedly committed to providing him with many opportunities, along with her unending assistance, to her own detriment.

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    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

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