Prince Andrew’s royal status is in disarray following a brief, tense conversation with his enraged brother, the King. Despite surrendering his royal titles and distinctions amidst increased scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the move has not calmed the controversy.
Recent revelations linking him to the convicted sex offender have brought further disgrace to the royal family after the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, where she reiterated her allegations of being trafficked to Andrew by Epstein. Andrew vehemently denies these accusations.
Pressure mounts on Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge as reports emerged that he has paid minimal rent for the expansive 30-room estate for nearly two decades. Calls have even surfaced for the removal of his Prince title, a process requiring parliamentary intervention.
In a separate development, a revealing biography shedding light on Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, from earlier this year, unveiled a series of claims concerning the ex-duke’s treatment of royal staff and his unusual demands on them.
According to author Andrew Lownie, one source recounted Andrew’s authoritarian demeanor towards his staff, expecting obedience without question and making extravagant requests. An ex-equerry for the Queen Mother described Andrew as “rude and ignorant,” known for barking orders regularly, with “Do it!” becoming his signature command.
This stark contrasted with the respectful treatment the equerry received from the Queen Mother and King Charles, who viewed staff as individuals. The biography titled “The Rise and Fall of the House of York” highlighted Andrew’s peculiar demands, such as requiring maids to ascend four flights of stairs just to open his curtains while he lay nearby.
Allegedly, staff often found used tissues strewn around his bed each morning, and on one occasion, Andrew summoned a television technician to his residence in the wee hours to explain how the remote control operated.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has endorsed a parliamentary investigation into Andrew’s housing situation following revelations of his nearly rent-free living arrangements at Royal Lodge.