Prince Andrew has relinquished his royal titles amid renewed scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Consequently, the move marks a significant moment in the ongoing Andrew Epstein scandal. This decision follows both public pressure and revelations in a new biography as well as Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
Following her death earlier this year, Giuffre’s memoir presented fresh allegations against Andrew. At the same time, Andrew Lownie’s 2025 biography, The Rise and Fall of the House of York, revealed details about Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s finances, Epstein connections, and extravagant lifestyle.
Moreover, Lownie’s book, described as one of the most damning royal biographies ever, drew on hundreds of interviews over four years of research. For instance, one chapter documents Andrew attending Heidi Klum’s 2000 Halloween party in New York. This event featured Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Meanwhile, Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, defended Andrew against Giuffre’s allegations. She claimed Sarah Ferguson, not Maxwell, encouraged Andrew’s friendship with Epstein. She also denied any incriminating links between Andrew and other prominent figures.
Additionally, Lownie recounted Andrew’s encounters with former Playboy model Denise Martell during an official Los Angeles trip in 2000. Martell described spending three nights with the Duke at his hotel suite. According to Lownie, Andrew has had relationships with more than 1,000 women during his life.
Furthermore, newly released emails suggest Andrew remained in contact with Epstein for at least five years longer than publicly stated. For example, correspondence between Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak referenced Andrew in discussions about potential business ventures in China.
These revelations also challenge Andrew’s 2019 Newsnight interview. He claimed to have ended contact with Epstein in December 2010. Additionally, emails show Andrew tried to involve police and a senior royal aide in investigating Giuffre, sharing her personal information allegedly obtained from Epstein.
Following the controversy, King Charles reportedly warned Andrew he would strip him of titles if he refused to give them up voluntarily. Consequently, Andrew relinquished his dukedom and other honours, a decision supported by Prince William.
As a result, Andrew is now officially referred to simply as Prince Andrew. Similarly, Sarah Ferguson updated her social media handles to remove royal affiliations. Overall, the Andrew Epstein scandal continues to dominate discussions on accountability within the Royal Family.
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