Former Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has quietly vacated the Royal Lodge, his residence near Windsor Castle, marking the latest chapter in a continuing scandal that has shaken the British monarchy. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny related to his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein, and follows a period of increasing pressure on the royal family to further distance itself from the disgraced royal.
Andrew was stripped of his honorary military roles and royal patronages in , though he retained the title of Duke of York, which could only be removed by an act of Parliament. However, facing mounting controversy over his links to Epstein, he announced in that he would relinquish the title, a decision reportedly made under intense pressure from the King.
Reports indicate that Andrew had not been contributing financially to the upkeep of the Royal Lodge despite losing his official income streams. The latest developments involve allegations that he was involved in arranging a meeting between a -year-old woman and himself at the Royal Lodge for the purpose of a sexual encounter.
He has temporarily relocated to a more modest property at Sandringham and is expected to move permanently to Marsh Farm. Born in Buckingham Palace in , Andrew was the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He was known for his jovial personality and irreverent sense of humor during his schooling at Gordonstoun, a prestigious boarding school in Scotland.
Andrew followed a path of military service, joining the Royal Navy as part of his duties to the Crown. He trained as a helicopter pilot and completed the All Arms Commando Course. His service during the Falklands War in – flying missions as part of the crew of the HMS Invincible – earned him recognition as a hero, becoming the first member of the royal family to see active combat since the reign of King George VI. He was praised for not using his royal status to avoid service.
In the years following the war, Andrew enjoyed a reputation as a skilled pilot and a patriotic figure. However, he also became a frequent subject of tabloid attention due to his reported romantic exploits. Despite this, he married Sarah Ferguson in and was granted the title of Duke of York on his wedding day. The couple had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but divorced amicably in .
After retiring from the Navy, Andrew served as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from . It was during this period that his association with Jeffrey Epstein began to raise concerns. Judicial documents later revealed that Epstein had introduced Andrew to Virginia Giuffre.
The Duke of York’s friendship with Epstein came under intense scrutiny following the exposure of Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme. This led to Andrew stepping down from his role as Special Representative in after a photograph surfaced showing him walking with Epstein in New York’s Central Park, despite Epstein’s prior conviction for sex offenses. Allegations began to surface suggesting Andrew’s potential involvement in the abuse.
In , Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in New York against Andrew, alleging sexual assault when she was a minor. The allegations detailed encounters in the United Kingdom, New York, and the Virgin Islands. Buckingham Palace vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “categorically false.” Andrew attempted to rehabilitate his public image through initiatives like Pitch@Palace, a platform designed to promote entrepreneurship.
The situation reached a critical point in with Epstein’s arrest in July and subsequent death in August. The release of documents related to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, brought direct references to Andrew to light. A disastrous interview with the BBC’s Newsnight program in further damaged his reputation. During the interview, Andrew failed to express remorse for his association with Epstein and offered a questionable explanation for a visit to Epstein’s home in , stating he was there due to his “honourable” nature.
He was unable to refute Giuffre’s claims. The interview sparked widespread condemnation and four days later, Andrew announced his withdrawal from public duties. A civil lawsuit followed in , leading to an out-of-court settlement of £12 million. Andrew did not admit legal liability.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, Andrew faced increasing isolation within the royal family. The emergence of further Epstein-related documents in and the death of Virginia Giuffre in solidified his position as a deeply problematic figure for the monarchy, resulting in the King removing his remaining royal honors.
Beyond the Epstein scandal, Andrew’s past actions as a trade envoy have also drawn criticism, including cultivating relationships with controversial figures like Muammar Gaddafi and Tarek Kaituni. Concerns were raised in regarding the sale of his mansion to a Kazakh businessman for a price significantly above market value, suggesting potential bribery. He was also implicated in a fraud case in , receiving £1 million from a Turkish businessman linked to a scam.
documents suggest his network of contacts may have been exploited for opaque purposes, potentially blurring the lines between diplomatic missions and personal gain, raising questions about the integrity of international agreements he was involved in.
