Prince Andrew’s Royal Scandals and Controversies Explained

Between the 4 youngsters of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Andrew in all probability experiences essentially the most excessive highs and lows.

Andrew was the topic of Andrew Lawye’s 2025 e book, “The Rise and Fall of York Home,” and the BBC reported that he was “a mercilessly unseen portrait” on the time, “rog-worthy, self-exploring and denies his relationship with Jeffrey Epst.”

It was in all probability unwelcome information for the royal household and his household, however there isn’t any denying Andrew has made some questionable choices all through his life.

These choices embody persevering with long-term friendship with Epstein after his 2008 conviction on intercourse trafficking costs, in addition to the alleged sexual assault of the late Virginia Gifer. (Prince Andrew claimed he raped Gifer, who died of suicide whereas a minor in April 2025. The pair settled a 2021 civil lawsuit out of courtroom for a non-public quantity. The royals maintained his innocence.)

Proceed scrolling to learn extra about Prince Andrew’s ups and downs within the royal home.

His place within the royal home

Andrew joined the royal household on February 19, 1960 as the primary child born to a queen or king sitting. In all accounts he had the everyday upbringing of somebody born right into a monarchy. He finally went to Gordon Stone Boarding College in Scotland. His older brother, King Charles, and his father, Prince Philip, had been additionally current.

His army function

Andrew was a embellished army veteran and spent greater than 20 years within the British military. He expressed his need to be a helicopter pilot as a toddler. It is a dream that got here true after receiving the wings in 1981.

In contrast to most members of the royal household, Andrew watched fight whereas on responsibility. He carried out a number of missions throughout Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands in April 1982, and finally retired from the army in July 2001.

Marriage to Sarah Ferguson

Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson married in July 1986 after forming a friendship that dates again to childhood. The wedding was well-known, and the pair welcomed their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

The couple introduced their separation in 1992 and their divorce was finalized in 1996. On the time, Ferguson’s need for a non-crowned profession was mentioned to have performed a task within the choice to divide.

“I did not need a divorce, however I had to take action due to the circumstances. I wished to work. It was not proper for a royal princess to grow to be industrial, so Andrew and I made a decision to make the divorce official.

Since then, it has been reported that infidelity can also be an element within the choice to separate the pair, and in accordance with a report from the Every day Mail, Lownie’s e book claims that Andrew generally “sleeps at over 10” [women] At some point. ”

His friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

Andrew’s friendship with the late Epstein was arrested on federal costs of intercourse trafficking minors and died in jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial, but it surely was revealed in 2010 when a photograph of the New York Metropolis pair surfaced. Epstein served in jail for just below 13 months after pleading responsible to soliciting prostitution from minors and soliciting prostitution in 2008.

Royal Watchers and the media did not wish to ask questions in regards to the pair’s relationship. In 2011, it was reported by a number of shops the place Andrew usually frolicked at two Epstein houses. In response to the identical report, Ferguson additionally obtained a $24,500 mortgage from Epstein.

Andrew was compelled to resign as a commerce envoy in 2011, on account of friendship and subsequent scrutiny.

His sexual assault allegations

Just a few years later, the late Gifer accused Andrew of forcing him to have intercourse with him as a minor. She claimed that the act happened in Epstein’s personal island within the Caribbean, in addition to in New York and London.

The Palace initially denied the declare as “decisively unfaithful,” however Gifer’s accusations precipitated a hearth of warning and scrutiny that Andrew had not but recovered. In 2019, he interviewed the BBC about his lengthy friendship with Epstein and Guiffre’s allegations, claiming he “has no reminiscence” to take broadly publicized pictures of the time.

His altering royal duties

The BBC interview did nothing to assist Andrew, and he introduced his choice to shortly retreat from royal duties.

“In latest days, it has been revealed that the circumstances associated to my earlier relationship with Jeffrey Epstein have grow to be a significant disruption to my household’s work and the precious work that’s occurring in lots of organizations and charities I’m proud to help,” he mentioned in an announcement on the time. “Subsequently, I requested her jealous if she might retreat from her public obligations within the close to future, and he or she gave her permission.”

His Virginia Giffer Lawsuit

Giffer filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to Andrew in August 2021, alleging sexual abuse. “In the present day, my lawyer filed a lawsuit in opposition to Prince Andrew for sexual abuse beneath the Little one Victims Act.

“I take Prince Andrew for what he did to me. The highly effective and wealthy will not be exempt from taking accountability for his or her actions. I hope that different victims can’t stay in silence and worry, and that they will regain their very own lives by talking up and demanding justice,” she added.

“Prince Andrew denies that he’s Epstein’s co-conspirator, or that Epstein trafficked a woman to him,” his legal professionals Andrew B. Bretler and Melissa Y. Lerner wrote in an announcement on the time.

His royal honor

Queen Elizabeth stripped Andrew of his royal honor, medals and achievements in January 2022 on account of the aforementioned allegations.

“The Queen’s approval and settlement introduced the Duke of York’s army affiliation and royal patronage again to Queen,” Buckingham Palace introduced on the time. “The Duke of York continues to not assume any public duties and defend this case as a non-public citizen.”

His lawsuit settlement

Andrew in the end settled a lawsuit with Guiffre in February 2022 with an quantity reported to exceed $16 million, but it surely was by no means publicly confirmed.

“Prince Andrew intends to make a major donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in help of the rights of the victims. Prince Andrew by no means supposed Ms Giuffre’s character to be malicious. He has accepted that he suffered as a longtime sufferer of abuse and on account of an unfair public assault.

“It’s recognized that Jeffrey Epstein has been trafficked by numerous younger ladies through the years. Prince Andrew regrets his relationship with Epstein and stands up and praises Ms. Giuffre and the braveness of different survivors for herself and others.

If you happen to or somebody you already know has been sexually assaulted, contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-Hope (4673). If you happen to or somebody you already know is experiencing home violence, please name the home home violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential help. If you happen to or somebody you already know is a sufferer of trafficking, contact the Nationwide Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.