Charlotte Manley, once the private secretary to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been recognized with an honor by King Charles, following her cooperation with police regarding her tenure with the former royal.

Manley, now 68, served as private secretary and treasurer to the ex-prince for two years after his 2001 appointment as the UK’s special representative for trade and investment. Prior to this, she spent five years as his assistant.

Yesterday, she was bestowed the title of Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order at Windsor Castle, having been named in the King’s New Year’s Honours List for 2026.

The title of Dame Commander is one of the higher accolades within the Royal Victorian Order, an honor established by Queen Victoria in 1896 to recognize personal service to the monarchy.

This prestigious rank is usually conferred upon senior members of the royal household and individuals who have directly served the monarch.

Reports suggest that Dame Manley requested no media photographs be taken during the awards ceremony.

Dame Manley accompanied Andrew on many overseas business trips – including to New York, Bulgaria, Brazil, Peru and Canada.

Earlier this month, she said she would be happy to speak to the police about her time serving the ex-royal, who is currently investigation for misconduct in a public office. 

Charlotte Manley, 68, served as the former prince’s private secretary and treasurer for two years after he was appointed the UK’s special representative for trade and investment in 2001

Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police officers on his 66th birthday on February 19 but was released pending further investigation

‘I would rather talk to the police than the press,’ she reportedly told journalists at her Wiltshire home. ‘Not that I would have much to tell them.’ 

Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police officers on his 66th birthday on February 19 but was released pending further investigation. 

He is accused of passing sensitive information to paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing. 

It previously emerged that Dame Manley had signed a cheque worth £75 in June 2000 to pay a South African masseuse to attend Andrew’s rooms in Buckingham Palace. 

The visit was organised by Jeffrey Epstein’s then girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell reportedly told Monique Giannelloni, the masseuse, that she would introduce her to ‘someone more famous than God.’

A matter of weeks later that person was revealed to be Andrew, whom Ms Giannelloni met at the palace.

‘I got to the room and Andrew was stood there in a robe,’ she told the Daily Mail in 2019. 

‘After saying “hello”, he disappeared to the bathroom and came back in the nude. I averted my eyes and I was quite embarrassed.’

Ms Giannelloni insisted that Andrew was otherwise ‘very nice and gentlemanly’ during the encounter. 

Dame Manley also helped welcome President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Windsor during their state visit last year

Other people who received honours at Windsor Castle on Tuesday included actress Carey Mulligan and former Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. 

Dame Manley served as an officer in the Royal Navy between 1976 and 1996 before she joined the Royal Family. 

After she stopped working for Andrew, she held a number of other royal positions, including chapter clerk of St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

Dame Manley also helped welcome President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Windsor during their state visit last year. 

She previously received an OBE in 1996 and was made Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2018.

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order is a title that recognises personal service to the royal family.

Over the weekend, Andrew was spotted inspecting horses near to his home in Norfolk. 

This was despite reports that the former Duke of York had been urged to stop horse riding – one of his favourite pastimes – after aides feared it would be a ‘bad look’. 

Before moving to Sandringham a few weeks ago, Andrew was regularly seen horse rising around Windsor.

Charles finally kicked his brother out of Royal Lodge hours after he was seen smiling and waving at the public amid continued outrage over his links to Epstein.

Andrew was seen cheerily greeting members of the public as he rode his horse near Royal Lodge on January 31 and was then seen waving while at the wheel of his Range Rover two days later.

Insiders suggested the photographs may have been the ‘final straw’ in what has been a turbulent few months for the shamed former royal.

Next month, Andrew is due to move into Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom bolthole shielded from public view by a 6ft fence.