Downfall of Prince Andrew: End of Duke of York and the making of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Prince Andrew is no longer a prince. The erstwhile Duke of York will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as his alleged scandalous past has caught up with him—particularly due to a voice from the grave: Virginia Giuffre, who claimed during her life, and again in her posthumous book, that she was a victim of sex trafficking involving the now-former British royal. The favourite child of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the 65-year-old former fighter pilot went from playboy to the poster boy of disgrace. At the height of his fame, Andrew was seen as a modern royal—glamorous, global, and entrepreneurial. But today, his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, stand embarrassed by the actions of their father. This is his story:

The life of Prince Andrew: Privilege and pomp

Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace. The third child—and second son—of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, he was known for his charm and energy.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and served as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, flying dangerous missions that earned him recognition as a war hero. Andrew rose to the rank of lieutenant commander by 1992 and retired from active duty in 2001, later receiving honorary promotions up to vice admiral. That same year, Andrew was appointed the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, promoting British business abroad, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

His 1986 marriage to Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey was a global spectacle, but the relationship was rocked by scandals and infidelity. The couple divorced in 1996 but remained close, continuing to share the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

A Royal Scandal: How Epstein friendship ruined Andrew

Andrew’s associations were controversial even in the early 2000s, particularly his dealings with authoritarian regimes such as Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. But his friendship with the late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein became his ultimate undoing.

The two met around 1999 through Ghislaine Maxwell, a London socialite and Epstein’s then-girlfriend. According to public records, Andrew visited Epstein’s properties in New York, Palm Beach, and the Caribbean. The association continued even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offences. Andrew hosted Epstein and Maxwell at Windsor Castle in 2006 and stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion in 2010, supposedly to “end” their friendship. Later emails, however, revealed continued contact. Epstein also paid £15,000 towards Sarah Ferguson’s debts.

Virginia Giuffre: The woman who brought down Prince Andrew, in life and after death

In 2014, Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s sex trafficking victims, publicly accused Andrew of sexually abusing her. The abuse, she claimed, took place after she was a trafficked as a 17-year-old in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private island in the Virgin Islands. A now-infamous photo showed Andrew with his arm around Giuffre’s waist, with Maxwell smiling beside them.

In public remarks, including a disastrous 2019 BBC interview, Andrew claimed to have “no recollection” of Giuffre and denied all allegations. His bizarre justifications—including a medical condition preventing him from sweating and an alibi involving a visit to Pizza Express—only made matters worse. Sponsors withdrew support, and within days, he stepped down from public duties.

Giuffre’s pursuit of justice continued. She sued Andrew in 2021 for sexual assault, and after failing to have the case dismissed, he settled out of court in February 2022 for a reported £12 million without admitting guilt. The late Queen stripped him of military roles, royal patronages, and the use of “His Royal Highness.”

Epstein file disclosures: The brother king takes action

In early 2025, new Epstein files released by US authorities, followed by leaked emails in which Andrew urged Epstein to stay in touch and promised to “play again,” reignited public outrage. Fresh misconduct claims emerged, and the final blow came from Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, which described Andrew as having treated her “like property.”

On October 17, Andrew relinquished his ducal titles. Facing mounting political and public pressure, King Charles III acted to protect the monarchy’s integrity. On Friday (Oct 31), the king formally removed his brother's “Prince” title and HRH style by royal warrant, ordering him to vacate his royal residence.

Once a decorated naval officer and royal hero, Andrew’s swift decline into a disgraced commoner marks one of the most dramatic royal downfalls in modern British history. His legacy will now be that of an enduring cautionary tale of power, misused privilege and accountability.