From darling to pariah, there is sometimes only one step. Prince Andrew, second son of Elizabeth II, crossed it on January 13, when he lost his title of Royal Highness, his military titles and all of his association sponsorships, by decision of the Queen of ‘England. Until then, the British royal family supported the beloved prince, steeped in the Epstein affair, at arm’s length, including the day after his disastrous interview in 2019, before letting go of him so as not to be too splashed. So here is the Duke of York returned to the status of ordinary citizen to face justice.
Although hot-tempered and materialistic, Prince Andrew, considered a war hero, was one of the headliners of royalty across the Channel. But much less known in France, eclipsed by his brother Charles, the discreet heir. 20 minutes sheds light on the personality of the man accused of rape by Virginia Giuffre.
A “hedonistic” war hero
“Previously, he was a member of the royal family rather appreciated” by the British, indicates Philippe Chassaigne, questioned by 20 minutes. The history professor at the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne, a specialist in Great Britain and the royal family, recalls that Andrew “was exposed during the Falklands war”, where he served on the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible in 1982. But his status as a war hero has long since given way to the image of a jet-setter, “who spends money too visibly, who flies too much” let go of biographer Catherine Meyer in 2019.
Already in his early youth, the prince was nicknamed “Randy Andy the hot rabbit”, reports Philippe Chassaigne, who describes him as a “hedonist”. Among his liaisons, that with the actress Koo Stark, known for starring in “naked movies and doing the page 3 photo in The Sun” was a big hit in the tabloids in the early 1980s. Not exactly the kind of relationship that makes good in the royal family. “Even if Prince Charles also had mistresses before getting married, they were all respectable,” notes the historian.
A friendship to monetize
The comparison with his older brother will pursue Andrew all his life, especially in his marriage to Sarah Fergusson, as appreciated as Diana at the start. Although he benefited from more attention and a “more maternal attitude” from Elizabeth II, which is often said to be her favorite son, the Duke of York “did not inherited from his mother the sense of moderation or frugality”. It must be said that, according to the testimonies of former servants, Andrew likes “beautiful things, the best products”, specifies Philippe Chassaigne.
Aware that his status as Royal Highness made “his proximity profitable”, the prince did not hesitate to monetize the latter, sometimes very expensive (up to “500,000 pounds”) or “in exchange for services”, explains the historian . “It’s no secret that Andrew loves money,” he asserts. This is how Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of a former British press magnate and used to evolving in the upper echelons of the country, was able to meet him and play matchmaker with Jeffrey Epstein. The two men became friends, and this is how the photo was taken of Andrew, holding by the waist Virginia Roberts, 17, in a residence of the American billionaire, with the English socialite in the background, in 2001. It is this young girl, who has become Virginia Guiffre, who today accuses the prince of three rapes.
Favorite son of Queen Elizabeth, Andrew has no memory of when this photo was taken of him in the company of Virginia Roberts, “sex slave” of billionaire J. Epstein, then 17 years old. To the BBC, he claims to have had dinner with his daughter in a pizzeria that evening pic.twitter.com/b0ci2jyBjg
— Philippe Bernard (@canalbernard) November 17, 2019
“A high idea of his person” and monumental anger
During the 2019 interview, where he had to defend himself from these accusations, Prince Andrew was shocked by his attitude, smiling and laughing, seeming without compassion with the victims. “The view of the public has completely changed” after this interview, judge Philippe Chassaigne. But his behavior was not so surprising, the prince having “a high idea of his person” of the general opinion. “He considers that being the queen’s third child, he is superior to ordinary mortals”, still sketches the Bordeaux academic. The testimonies of former servants are full of examples, such as his refusal to “get up from his desk to draw the curtain behind him”, then ringing a servant.
Former employees of the royal family also report monumental anger, especially about his collection of stuffed animals, which they were forbidden to touch. A story that Philippe Chassainge considers “likely”. And in recent years, this anger was awakening even within the family, Andrew thus disputing a Sandringham bathroom in 1999 until the intervention of the queen. “For ten years, relations have been more tense because of the reorganization of the royal family” around the heirs of Charles, adds the historian.
Thus, the Duke of York took it very badly that his press service was merged with that of his sister Anne and his little brother Edward. And his involvement in the Epstein affair will not help matters. Held at a distance from the family, it will be “difficult to find a role”, “unless he is completely cleared” and he demonstrates to be “victim of a set-up”, advances Philippe Chassaigne. According to Guardian, his lost titles will never be returned to him, no matter what. And being only ninth in the line of succession at a time when “the royal family is refocusing on those who will wear the crown”, the ex-Buckingham Palace darling can definitely say goodbye to his beloved status. .