Sex Claims, Fiery Interviews & Family Troubles: Prince Andrew’s Biggest Scandals

Prince Andrew turned 60 years old this Wednesday, February 19, and after months of silence from the controversial duke, RadarOnline.com is looking back at his biggest scandals.

As readers know, Andrew, 60, has been wrapped up in a sex scandal linked to late financier Jeffrey Epstein for over five years. The royal — who is the son of Queen Elizabeth II — had accusations regarding sexual abuse made against him in a lawsuit in 2015, although he was not a party to it, when a female victim (now known to be Virginia Roberts) alleged he used her as a sex slave. A judge at the time ordered those allegations be struck from the record.

The Duke of York vehemently denied the claims and continued to do so after Roberts revealed her identity and re-accused him of the crimes in 2019.

Though a judge dismissed Roberts’ claims against Andrew, she has continued to fight for her truth.

In November 2019, following Epstein’s prison suicide, Andrew spoke in an interview with the BBC at Buckingham Palace.

During the talk, he denied Roberts’ claims that he sexually abused her three times: in London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein allegedly had his private “pedo island.” The duke even insisted he doesn’t remember meeting Roberts, despite there being photographic evidence that the two attended the same party with Epstein’s accused pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell.

RadarOnline.com readers know Andrew’s longtime friend Epstein admitted to prostituting minors and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008. Then, in July 2019, he was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking. He was denied bail ahead of his trial. On August 10 he was found dead inside his jail cell, and while police ruled his death a suicide, many believe the shamed financier was targeted and killed.

Days after Andrew’s disastrous interview, he announced he was stepping down from his royal duties.

In a public statement, the prince admitted that his ties to the late financier greatly impacted his family’s reputation, and interrupted their work. “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support,” he said. “Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”

Soon, Andrew moved out of Buckingham Palace, and his daughter Princess Beatrice was forced to postpone her engagement party.

And while she is still set to marry businessman Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her wedding will reportedly be scaled down.

“There was going to be a big party at Buckingham Palace with his charities and friends, but that’s been cancelled,” royal correspondent Jennie Bond said on UK talk show LORRAINE earlier this year. “But also I think they’re going to have to ‘rethink’ the arrangements for Beatrice’s wedding.”

While the royals have not spoken out on the matter, Beatrice’s wedding announcement has been delayed and no venue has been revealed.

Aside from the issues caused by Andrew’s ties to Epstein, the duke has also been involved in other dramas. In 2018, fans slammed him for allegedly interacting with Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni at his daughter Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding.