Former prince Andrew: Historic downfall for Britain’s ‘Randy Andy’
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Britain’s former prince Andrew was seen in his younger years as fun and comfortable around people.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Former British prince Andrew’s inexorable fall from grace has reached an extraordinary new low as he becomes the first member of the British royal family to be arrested
Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, was stripped of all his titles
The man who once swanned around the world in private jets, staying at luxury hotels and palaces, was in custody and likely spending his 66th birthday on Feb 19 inside a police cell.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was already deeply unpopular with the British public, with an October YouGov poll finding that 91 per cent had a negative opinion of him.
Dubbed “Randy Andy” by the British tabloids, he once led a gilded life as the favourite son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But shocking revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the illegal actions he allegedly participated in have likely sullied his reputation beyond repair.
On Feb 19, British police arrested Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct at his new home in Sandringham in Norfolk.
It came after a fresh cache of documents published earlier in February by the US Justice Department appeared to show that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor sent Epstein potentially confidential documents during his time as Britain’s trade envoy.
At least nine separate British police forces have confirmed they were assessing reports that appear to link the former prince to Epstein.
Born on Feb 19, 1960, in Buckingham Palace, the British public adored the handsome prince in his younger years. As a helicopter pilot, he fought in the 1982 Falklands War against Argentina.
He was seen as fun and comfortable around people, unlike his more remote and stuffier older brother, King Charles.
But as his excesses went unchecked and times and attitudes changed, the public grew tired of his behaviour and then increasingly angry.
The re-emergence of allegations that he had sex with the late Virginia Giuffre
Source of embarrassment
The scandal has snowballed since then. The latest release in January of the so-called Epstein files included a picture of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor leaning over a woman lying on the floor.
In a November 2010 e-mail sent while he was trade envoy, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor appeared to share with Epstein
He also reportedly sent the American financier details of the trip – on which he was accompanied by Epstein’s business associates – along with investment opportunities months later.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has been a persistent source of embarrassment for the monarchy.
A devastating 2019 television interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein and failed to express any sympathy for his victims, further humiliated the family.
He also faced ridicule after countering a claim that he was “profusely sweating” during an alleged encounter with Ms Giuffre, saying he could not sweat because of a medical condition.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his military and His Royal Highness titles in 2022 and shuffled off into retirement after being sued by Ms Giuffre and paying her a multimillion-pound settlement, even though he did not admit any fault.
Ms Giuffre, a US and Australian citizen, died by suicide
‘Air Miles Andy’
Internationally, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was once best known for his 1986 wedding to the fun-loving Ms Sarah Ferguson, or Fergie.
Bubbly, friendly Ms Ferguson was considered an ideal match for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who had a reputation as a “playboy prince”.
The couple have two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie.
But, by 1992, the pair had split amicably, contributing to what the late Queen Elizabeth II called her “annus horribilis”. They finalised their divorce in 1996.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor left the Royal Navy in 2001 after 22 years of service as a helicopter pilot, and became a special government trade envoy until 2011, earning a new nickname – “Air Miles Andy” – as he jetted around the world at the taxpayers’ expense.
Questions also piled up about his judgement after links to various dictators emerged, and he faced repeated criticism of being brash, arrogant and rude.
King Charles finally moved into action in October, stripping his brother of his royal titles and ousting him from his home on the Windsor estate.
Ms Ferguson, whose reputation has also been tarnished by revelations from the Epstein files, was also stripped of her title of duchess and left to seek a new home on her own. AFP
