In light of increased pressure for Prince Andrew to be removed from his Royal Lodge home, claims made about his personality in an explosive biography, have resurfaced. Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, delves into the lives of Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
It also details Andrew’s treatment of royal staff and the bizarre requests he would make of them. Royal author Andrew Lownie was told by a source that Andrew’s attitude was that his staff were “there to serve and not to question his actions”.
According to Lownie’s book, Andrew demanded that maids climb four floors of stairs just to open his curtains for him, even if he was lying beside the windows.
Andrew is said to have been very particular about formalities and would insist everyone bowed to him when he came into a room. Mr Lownie writes if they failed to do so, he would apparently say, “Let’s try that again” and he would leave the room and re-enter,
The book claims a member of staff had one aide punished by being removed from his role because he didn’t like the appearance of a mole on the man’s face, and another for “wearing a nylon tie”.
One former maid, Charlotte Briggs, has previously lifted the lid on working for Andrew. The maid who worked at the Palace in the mid 90s, revealed that the prince had 72 cuddly toys on his bed.
She said the toys had to be lined up in size order. As reported in the Mirror, she said: “As soon as I got the job, I was told about the teddies, and it was drilled into me how he wanted them. I even had a day’s training. Everything had to be just right. It was so peculiar.”
Charlotte claimed that the prince frequently lost his temper with the staff, especially if it involved his cuddly toys. She added: “It took me half an hour to arrange them – most bizarre thing to be paid for.”
It comes as a friend of Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has revealed that she is on the cusp of a “nervous breakdown” as her two daughters have also been dragged into the scandal erupting over her association with the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Phil Dampier said: “I’m told she has been on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I can reveal her older sister Jane has recently flown over from Australia to comfort her in the UK.”
Prince Andrew made a shock statement via Buckingham Palace announcing that he would be giving up the use of his royal titles and honours after a discussion with King Charles, despite stressing he denied all accusations made against him involving the late Virginia Giuffre.
