A plan by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, to “gatecrash” his elder brother’s coronation in May has come unstuck.

My Buckingham Palace sources tell me that the Duke has been intent on witnessing the historic event and even had visions of actively participating in the ceremony itself until the idea was vetoed by King Charles III.

After that avenue was closed off, Prince Andrew put in train what he thought was a foolproof plan.

My sources tell me the Duke raided his late mother’s wardrobe to dress as a “lady in waiting” or as the Queen Consort Camilla now terms them “Queen’s companions”.

“The Duke began stalking the grounds of Windsor Castle and other royal residences (main picture) in a bid to make himself a familiar face among the many household staff coming and going to coronation planning meetings,” a royal insider informed me.

“He spent several weeks doing this and as he became bolder and bolder he started infiltrating the planning meetings where he introduced himself as Lady Anne Drew.

“He was very good at his play-acting and fooled enough household staff that he, or she, was actually pencilled in to the coronation plans as an escort for Her Majesty the Queen Consort.

“Unfortunately for the Duke his plan was sabotaged by a familiar royal figure – himself.”

My source told me that at one key planning meeting when his role was being finalised, Prince Andrew accidentally let his disguise slip when an attractive and very, very young woman – a distant royal relative of his – entered the meeting room.

It appears, from the information provided to me, that the Duke could not help himself and nudged the elderly dowager sitting next him and remarked rather loudly: “Phwoar! Look at the jugs on that. One wouldn’t mind working up a sweat on Her Royal Hiney.

“One thinks one just creamed one’s jeans. In fact, yah, one has,” he said as he examined his royal nether regions.

My royal sources tell me that following the exposure of his ploy, the Duke will now be watching the coronation at home with his ex-wife, the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, although right now the couple is still not sure where that “home” will be.