New reports suggest Prince Andrew could be stripped of his title (Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImagevia Getty Images)
Concerns have been raised about the Royal Family’s most controversial figure, as a new biography, set for release next week, includes several damning allegations about Prince Andrew, sparking doubts over his future in the Royal Family
Andrew Lownie’s book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, touches on the Prince’s innumerable alleged indiscretions, including his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, alongside claims that the Duke of York engaged in a physical altercation with his nephew, Prince Harry, following the discovery of “something Andrew said behind his back”.
A representative for Prince Harry subsequently denied the allegation, telling People magazine: “I can confirm neither of those things are true. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never had a physical fight, nor did Prince Andrew ever make those comments about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry.”
These matters come on the heels of Andrew’s widely-reported connection with suspected “Chinese spy” Yang Tengbo and the prolonged “siege of Royal Lodge” which witnessed an exasperated King Charles withdraw his younger brother’s million-pound-a-year personal allowance.
According to the Daily Telegraph’s Royal Correspondent Hannah Furness, questions are discreetly being raised by Palace insiders about how greater distance might be established between The Royal Family and the increasingly-unpopular Duke of York.
READ MORE: ‘Ruthless’ Prince William set to tackle ‘the Prince Andrew problem’
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The Duchess of York was reportedly caught trying to sell access to the prince (Image: Getty Images)
She says that there exists a little-known process, whereby Parliament “can remove not just a Dukedom but even the title of Prince.”
This bold move “would need legislation,” she notes, “followed by Royal Assent from the King, but it is nevertheless technically possible.”
Prince Andrew’s precarious standing could be further jeopardised if his elder brother Charles were to pass away and Prince William ascended to the throne. Royal historian Christopher Wilson believes that William would be “ruthless” in severing ties with his controversy-laden uncle.
He said: “I think to a large extent Charles has adhered to [his mother, the late Queen’s] safe policy – the moment you start tearing the family apart, where does it stop?”
A new book claims that Harry punched Prince Andrew and left him with a “bloody nose” (Image: Getty Images)
“With William,” Wilson continues, “it will be a different approach – he has hard-nosed ideas about how the Royal family needs to appear in the frenzied social media world we now inhabit, and I think will be ruthless.”
The distancing from Prince Andrew has already commenced. In 2022, amidst US civil action over sexual assault claims, the Duke of York’s military titles and Royal patronages were “returned to the Queen.” He also consented to forgo his HRH title and withdrew from public duties.
Similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Prince Andrew kept his HRH title but concurred not to use it officially.
However, since then, accusations have continued to mount and “something,” as stated by a Palace insider to The Telegraph, “still needs to be done.”
Prince Andrew would be ‘ruthless’ in eliminating the Andrew problem, an expert said (Image: Getty)
Queries arose regarding Prince Andrew’s personal gains during his decade-long tenure as international trade envoy, with one former Buckingham Palace insider telling Andrew Lownie: “There are dozens, if not hundreds, more unwise connections to uncover from Andrew’s years in the role.”
Critics also highlighted how the Duke’s business excursions, conducted in a manner described as “boorish and very self-centred,” would frequently coincide with proximity to renowned ski resorts and golf destinations.
The nickname “Air Miles Andy” was coined due to his regular extravagant, fully-funded journeys.
Christopher Wilson suggests that King Charles might move to distance his younger sibling from the Royal Family should parliamentarians pose uncomfortable questions about the Duke’s ambassadorial period, potentially indicating misappropriation of public money.
Prince Andrew was friends with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Should such proof surface, Wilson states: “Charles could act in the best interests of preserving the monarchy”.
Andrew’s peculiar arrangement with former spouse Sarah Ferguson, who remains his housemate nearly three decades post-divorce, has similarly attracted scrutiny.
Ferguson was infamously caught on tape in 2010 attempting to broker access to the Prince with an undercover journalist masquerading as an overseas entrepreneur.
The Daily Mirror contacted Buckingham Palace concerning these allegations, however spokespeople declined to comment.
Prince Andrew has been accused of mixing business with pleasure during his time as a trade envoy (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images for Santander)