His association with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein over several years continues to haunt him. Furthermore, the former prince is not only under scrutiny for having had sexual relations with minors but also for the possibility of having shared confidential information with the millionaire pedophile.
Those were the days when Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's favorite son, enjoyed more privileges than the rest of her descendants. He was the most indulged, the one who received the least scolding and was allowed to do almost anything.
Among all the events from Andrew's past, one stands out, his 50th birthday celebration in 2010. Accustomed to luxury and pleasure, the sovereign's brother marked this special occasion privately with a dinner alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (66) and their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice (37) and Eugenie (35), at his ski chalet in Verbier (Switzerland).
The residence, for which they paid a whopping 21 million euros in 2014, was not without issues, as the newspaper Le Temps revealed that six years later they still owed six million euros plus interest. They sold it months later to settle the debts.
There were two other memorable parties to celebrate this significant milestone. On one hand, the one organized by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on February 19, 2010, at Buckingham Palace where 300 distinguished guests attended. Among them were the highest-ranking members of the royal family, representatives of charitable organizations and patronages supported by the prince, and military regiments of Queen Elizabeth II's son.
On that special night, the English National Ballet, of which Andrew was a patron, performed in the Grand Ballroom of Buckingham Palace.
On the 26th of that same month, Sarah and her daughters organized another more fun-filled celebration in the largest room of St. James's Palace. There was a cocktail reception followed by a formal dinner. The most astonishing aspect of this social gathering is that, according to The Express, the invitation was extended to none other than Jeffrey Epstein.
The email invitation read: "Dear Jeffrey, Beatrice, Eugenie, and I would love to invite you to celebrate dad/Andrew's 50th."
The millionaire declined the invitation.
At that time, according to Daily Mail, the financier was assisting Sarah Ferguson in settling a significant portion of her debts.
Among the celebrity guests were Naomi Campbell (55), who also appears in Epstein's declassified files, and Kazakh entrepreneur Goga Ashkenazi (46).
Ten years later, Andrew's arrival at 60 was overshadowed by the controversy that had already erupted. The Windsors were not in the mood for celebrations. The failed interview given to the BBC where he denied the sexual abuse allegations by Virginia Giuffre - the queen paid between 11.5 and 13.8 million euros out of her own pocket for an out-of-court settlement in 2022 - as well as the decision to withdraw from public life were two difficult stains to erase.
Andrew settled for a private lunch with Sarah and their daughters at Royal Lodge, the Windsor residence that he had to vacate in mid-January at the monarch's insistence. For 22 years, he was exempt from paying rent, as reported by The Times, and during that time, the property underwent no inspections whatsoever.
Although Andrew and Sarah separated in 1992 and divorced four years later, they continued sharing a roof because the former duchess did not earn enough to be independent. Over time, it has been revealed that she also had a relationship with Epstein, for which she has been punished.
As more documents from the Epstein case linking the former prince have surfaced, he has lost more privileges while society has turned its back on him.
Last December, his brother dealt him the final blow by stripping him of his prince title and the honors of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order, the two highest distinctions of the crown. He also revoked other titles and styles. Consequently, he is now a mere mortal named Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
At 66 years old, he is facing a future as bleak as soot. Various British media outlets such as The Mirror, The Daily Express, and The Guardian speculate on what his actual source of income will be.
Accustomed to great luxuries and entertaining celebrities, some question whether his contacts of questionable repute can assist him. What has been revealed is that for his services to the Navy, he receives nearly 23,000 euros annually and another almost 265 euros weekly in state pension. These meager amounts for him contrast with the 285,000 euros annually he received in his role as a prince.