Ex-Prince Andrew’s Former Aide Receives Royal Honor from King Charles

Charlotte Manley, a longtime fixture in the royal household, was appoineted a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order as part of King Charles’s New Year Honors

Charlotte Manley at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025.Credit : 

Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty

A past assistant of the former Prince Andrew received royal honors this week.

Charlotte Manley, a longtime fixture within the royal household, was appointed a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order as part of King Charles’ New Year Honors list for 2026. She received her honor at an investiture ceremony hosted by the King at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, March 31.

The Royal Victorian Order recognizes a wide variety of service to the royal family. Unlike some other honors, all awards are given at the direction of the sovereign and not the prime minister.

She was previously appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1996 and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2018.

Manley worked in a variety of roles in her time with the royal family, including as Andrew’s private secretary and treasurer from 2001 to 2003, after working as the assistant to the position since 1996.

The role involved overseas travel with the former Duke of York and meticulous record-keeping. The years of Manley’s service are particularly significant, as they coincide with Andrew’s time as a trade envoy for the U.K.

The former Duke of York, 66, was arrested on Feb. 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, linked to allegations that he improperly shared information with Jeffrey Epstein while working as an envoy.

Earlier this month, Manley, a 68-year-old former Royal Navy officer, told The Times that she’d be willing to speak with police about her time working for King Charles’ brother, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The Times alleges that, in 2000, Manley signed a £75 ($100) check from the Buckingham Palace bank account on the former prince’s behalf for a massage arranged by Ghislaine Maxwell.

She declined at the time to comment on the allegations against her former employer, saying, “I would rather talk to the police than the press, not that I would have much to tell them.”

After ending her work with Andrew in 2003, Manley served as the chapter clerk of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle until her retirement last year.

Manley has not been accused of any wrongdoing.