Unraveling Royal Scandal: Prince Andrew's Downfall and Allegations Explained in Detail

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This article references sexual assault and suicide.

Prince Andrew is losing the royal title he has had since birth and being evicted from his longtime royal residence following new revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

For weeks, Andrew has faced fresh criticism, following the posthumous release of a memoir by prominent Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she had been trafficked to Andrew by Epstein and was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions when she was a teenager.

But it’s been more than a decade and a half since Andrew first faced scrutiny for his relationship with Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein had pleaded not guilty.

The downfall of a former prince is a story that has captivated many, and it begins with his association with notorious figures. Back in February 2000, he was spotted alongside Jeffrey Epstein at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Shortly thereafter, in April of the same year, both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were guests at a Windsor Castle event hosted by Queen Elizabeth, which was partly in honor of Andrew’s 40th birthday.

Photographs from that period show Andrew Windsor standing alongside Jeffrey Epstein at the Mar-a-Lago club, a moment captured by Davidoff Studios Photography and sourced from Getty Images. This image, depicting a seemingly innocuous social gathering, would come to symbolize a much darker narrative.

Andrew reportedly met Epstein in 1999 after being introduced by the financier’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The following year, the three are documented together on multiple occasions.

The narrative took a more sinister turn when Virginia Giuffre released her memoir earlier this month, shedding light on her harrowing experiences. According to Giuffre, in 2001, she was trafficked by Epstein to Andrew when she was just 17 years old. She alleges that she was coerced into sexual encounters with him on three separate occasions that year.

Two women and two men standing near each other and smiling.

Andrew Windsor (second from left) and Jeffrey Epstein (right) were photographed at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in 2000. Source: Getty / Davidoff Studios Photography

According to Giuffre’s memoir, published earlier this month, she was trafficked to Andrew by Epstein in 2001 when she was 17 years old, and forced to have sex with him three times that year.

Giuffre said Andrews sexually assaulted her both at Maxwell’s house in London and at Epstein’s townhouse in New York in 2001.

The last time was on Epstein’s private island as part of what Giuffre described as an “orgy” with Andrew, Epstein and around eight other girls who “all appeared to be under the age of 18 and didn’t really speak English”.

Scrutiny over Epstein relationship, first allegations

In 2008, Epstein is convicted after pleading guilty to prostituting minors and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He serves nearly 13 months of the term in jail before a year of house arrest until August 2010.

In December, Andrew visits Epstein in New York, and the pair are photographed walking through Central Park.

In 2011, amid growing criticism of his friendship with Epstein, Andrew resigns from his role as British trade envoy.

In early 2015, Buckingham Palace denies “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors” relating to Andrew after court documents emerge alleging Giuffre was trafficked to Andrew by Epstein.

Epstein’s death and a disastrous interview

In July 2019, Epstein is arrested and charged with sex trafficking. One month after his arrest, while awaiting trial, Epstein is found dead in his prison cell.

In November, Andrew faces renewed criticism after a trainwreck BBC interview with journalist Emily Maitlis.

During the interview, Andrew defends his relationship with Epstein, fails to show empathy for his victims and offers explanations of his behaviour that many people find hard to believe. He denies having sex with Giuffre, saying he had no recollection “at all” of ever meeting her.

Andrew says he broke off contact with Epstein in December 2010, a date that will come back to haunt him.

Buckingham Palace announces Andrew is stepping back from public duties “for the foreseeable future”.

Civil lawsuit and settlement

In August 2021, Giuffre sues Andrew in a New York court, accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Andrew’s lawyers say he “unequivocally denies” the allegations.

An attempt by Andrew to dismiss the case is rejected in January 2022, and the following month, he agrees to an out-of-court settlement to end the civil case.

A woman wearing a white top, holding up a photograph of herself much younger.

Virginia Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew, among others. Source: Getty / Miami Herald/TNS

Andrew makes no admission of liability but agrees to pay her an undisclosed sum that is estimated to be in the millions of pounds.

Buckingham Palace announces Andrew’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, is stripping him of his honorary military affiliations, and he will no longer use the title ‘His Royal Highness’ in an official capacity.

In June 2022, Maxwell is sentenced to 20 years in prison, after being found guilty the previous year of sex trafficking and related crimes connected to Epstein’s abuse.

Renewed criticism

In April 2025, Giuffre takes her own life at her home in Neergabby, Western Australia. She was 41 years old.

In July, the FBI confirms Epstein died by suicide in 2019, after a review of evidence.

On 12 October, British newspapers reveal that, despite insisting that he had cut all contact with Epstein in 2010, Andrew sent an email to him on 28 February 2011.

“We are in this together and will have to rise above it,” Andrew told Epstein in the email.

“Otherwise, keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!”

Pressure continues to intensify against Andrew amid the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which details three times he allegedly sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager.

On 17 October, Andrew says he is voluntarily giving up his title of Duke of York and other honours — but would remain a prince — because “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family”.

On 31 October, Buckingham Palace announces King Charles is stripping Andrew of his remaining titles and evicting him from Royal Lodge, his longtime royal residence near Windsor Castle.

Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor — and not as a prince — and will move to a private home.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

— With additional reporting by the Associated Press via the Australian Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse

If allegations set out in this story raise issues for you, or you or someone you know needs support, you can seek 24-hour help by calling 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visiting 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.