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This incisive biography of Prince Andrew unfolds with a litany of scandals involving sex and money, persistent issues that have long plagued the royal family.
Andrew Lownie’s meticulously researched book, *Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York*, presents an unflinchingly critical portrayal of Prince Andrew, depicting him as arrogant, self-serving, and seemingly in denial regarding his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The author, known for his best-selling biographies, has a history of reshaping the public perception of prominent figures, notably through his revelations concerning Nazi intrigues surrounding the Duke of Windsor, formerly Edward VIII.
However, in the case of *Entitled*, Lownie’s work appears less about solidifying Prince Andrew’s reputation and more about irrevocably burying it. The depth of the revelations makes any potential rehabilitation seem exceedingly difficult.
This extensive account, spanning over 450 pages, reportedly involved four years of rigorous research and hundreds of interviews. Even for those familiar with the overarching narrative, the additional, often unexpected, details promise a compelling read.
Illustrative examples include comedian Billy Connolly and Sir Elton John’s attendance at Prince Andrew’s stag night, or filmmaker Woody Allen’s presence at a dinner alongside Prince Andrew at Epstein’s Manhattan residence.
This detail aligns with a recent New York Times article referencing a birthday greeting from Allen to Epstein, which alluded to the presence of “even royalty” at one of Epstein’s gatherings.
The book also recounts that Prince Andrew, in an effort to quickly shed weight during a relationship with a younger woman, adhered to a strict diet consisting of “stewed prunes for breakfast, raw vegetables for lunch and soup for supper.”
Regarding academic achievements, the book notes that Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, each passed two O-levels at their respective private schools. Andrew reportedly had to retake exams before proceeding to A-levels.
Now largely ostracized from public life, Prince Andrew reportedly spends his time, when not engaged in riding or golfing, watching aviation videos and reading thrillers, with *The Talented Mr. Ripley*, a story about a con artist assuming the identity of a wealthy socialite, cited as a favorite.
The biography includes lighter anecdotes, such as an incident when, as a helicopter pilot, he transported a group of soldiers from a rifle range and decided to land on the Sandringham estate.
Queen Elizabeth II, who was in residence, is said to have observed the unexpected arrivals and their firearms, remarking, “You can put those in there if you like,” gesturing towards an umbrella stand.
However, the biography is predominantly filled with accounts of his perceived rudeness, lack of self-awareness, and a significant number of reported affairs.
Allegations include his use of abusive language towards staff, berating one individual as an “imbecile” for failing to use the Queen Mother’s full title. Protection officers were reportedly dispatched to retrieve golf balls, and private jets were seemingly chartered with the same ease as ordering a taxi.
Peter Allen, a Paris-based journalist and a source for the book, suggests that many of Andrew’s problems stem from a “flawed character.”
“He’s been afforded every type of privilege, all his life, while displaying very poor judgement and getting into highly compromising situations,” Allen states.
Known as “Baby Grumpling” in his early years, Andrew allegedly reassigned individuals from their positions based on trivial reasons, such as wearing a nylon tie or having a mole on their face.
Diplomats, whose interests Andrew was intended to advance, reportedly nicknamed him “His Buffoon Highness” due to his frequent social missteps.
The book details his unfortunate propensity for associating with problematic figures in his business ventures, ranging from Libyan arms dealers and relatives of dictators to a Chinese spy.
“This book appears to seal the fate of Andrew if he was ever hoping to be reinstated officially into the working royals,” observes royal commentator Pauline Maclaran.
“The public will be wanting to see some clear action on the King’s part I think – particularly as Andrew’s connections to Epstein are raked over again,” Prof. Maclaran adds.
Beyond the cascade of negative portrayals, the book also delves into the potential underlying factors shaping Prince Andrew’s character.
It suggests a figure often isolated and lonely, fixated on sex but less adept at forming meaningful relationships. Sources from his naval service recall his “bombastic” exterior as masking a more vulnerable and socially awkward individual, whose upbringing left him uncertain about appropriate behavior.
He demonstrated genuine courage as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War and was remembered for his willingness to participate and contribute during that stressful period, when crews subsisted on canned rations rather than luxurious meals.
Regarding his fascination with sex, an unnamed source alleges that Andrew lost his virginity at the age of 11, an experience the source equates to a form of abuse.
One of his former naval colleagues transitioned from viewing Andrew as “immature, privileged, entitled” to developing a more sympathetic understanding of a character marked by “loneliness and insecurity,” a public figure uncertain about his place among others who ultimately associated with the “wrong sort of friends.”
Jeffrey Epstein undoubtedly tops that list. Lownie’s book provides meticulous details regarding the connections between Prince Andrew and the disgraced financier and sex offender, establishing links dating back to the early 1990s, earlier than previously documented.
It also underscores the imbalanced nature of their relationship, with a friend of Andrew’s describing the prince’s dealings with Epstein as “like putting a rattlesnake in an aquarium with a mouse.”
Epstein’s unsavory and abusive world, characterized by readily available money and exploitative sexual practices, ultimately functioned as a blackmail operation, Lownie’s book asserts, providing him with leverage over the numerous powerful individuals within his sphere of influence.
The book serves as a stark reminder of the scale and depravity of Epstein’s exploitation of young women and the subsequent devastation it wrought.
The infamous photograph depicting Virginia Giuffre alongside Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in London was purportedly taken by Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew remains the only individual in the image not to be deceased or incarcerated.
Moreover, Lownie’s sources cast doubt on the official narrative of Epstein’s suicide, questioning the medical evidence and the series of unfortunate lapses in supervision at the correctional facility where he was detained.
Following his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview and the legal proceedings initiated by Virginia Giuffre – which he settled while denying any wrongdoing – Prince Andrew has been relegated from public life, ceasing to be a “working royal.”
Historian Ed Owens notes that nearly six years have passed since that Newsnight interview, yet Prince Andrew continues to appear in news headlines “for all the wrong reasons.”
“This isn’t good for the monarchy,” he contends, even as “King Charles and Prince William have sought to limit the reputational damage Andrew can have on ‘brand Windsor’,” Owens explains.
Steadfastly supportive of Prince Andrew has been Sarah Ferguson, who describes their relationship as being “divorced to each other, not from each other,” with the two continuing to reside together at Royal Lodge.
The book portrays her as caught in a perpetual cycle of excessive spending, accumulating debt, and engaging in intricate deals, sponsorships, and accepting complimentary items in an effort to stabilize her finances, only to see the cycle repeat itself.
Nevertheless, her remarkable resilience and unwavering determination to persevere, even when others might have faltered, remain undeniable.
She possesses a sense of humor that resonates with people. The book recounts her success in boosting sales as an ambassador for Waterford Wedgwood, then under the ownership of Tony O’Reilly, with staff describing her as “brilliant at working a room, fresh, chic and wasn’t stuffy.”
The book has already climbed the best-seller charts, and royal commentator Richard Palmer suggests it raises difficult and timely questions.
“It puts Andrew back at the front and centre of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal at a time when Donald Trump is facing serious questions about his own friendship with the late paedophile,” Palmer observes.
“It’s a scandal that just won’t go away for the Royal Family, even though they’ve tried to distance themselves from Andrew,” he concludes.
*Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York* by Andrew Lownie, published by William Collins, will be released on 14 August
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