Queen Elizabeth II was allegedly urged by her husband, Prince Philip, to disregard their son Prince Andrew's long-rumored "sex addiction," according to explosive claims from royal insiders reported by RadarOnline.com and detailed by biographer Andrew Lownie. The revelations suggest the late monarch privately struggled with her son's behavior but was persuaded not to act, fearing both family discord and damage to the monarchy's reputation.
Lownie, writing on Substack, cited a palace insider who claimed that "Her Majesty and Philip were deeply concerned because their son became obsessed with sex, and it interfered with his royal responsibilities." The source added that the Queen was "deeply concerned" but was told by her husband to "ignore it all." The insider continued, "They were aware Andrew preferred spending excessive lengths of time pursuing sexual activities rather than focusing on his duties. It ranks high among the biggest regrets the Queen had."
For decades, Andrew's reputation as "Randy Andy" was well known among royal staff and the press. Yet his behavior, insiders say, was largely dismissed within palace walls. Lownie alleged that "He brought in prostitutes to Buckingham Palace for years. It was done on a regular basis. People who worked there complained to people in command, but nothing was done." According to the biographer, security staff who objected were warned: "If you would like to go back on the beat in Brixton, you have that choice, but otherwise you keep quiet."
The claims underscore what insiders describe as a pattern of royal indulgence that allowed Andrew's conduct to escalate unchecked. "Of course, the Queen knew," Lownie wrote. "But he was her favourite son, and he got away with everything. They brushed it under the rug. Until now."
Those familiar with palace operations say the Queen's reluctance stemmed from a mix of maternal loyalty and institutional caution. Her decision to shield her son-believed by many to be her favorite-created a moral dilemma that lingered well into her final years. After Prince Philip's death in 2021, the Queen reportedly felt liberated to act.
Andrew's downfall began publicly in 2019 with his now-infamous BBC interview denying accusations from Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. The fallout was swift: by January 2022, the Queen stripped him of all military titles and royal patronages after Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. The case was settled privately for an estimated £8 million, a move that effectively ended Andrew's public role.
Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, described in her posthumous memoir that Andrew "believed having sex with me was his birthright," adding that he once told her, "My daughters are just a little younger than you," referring to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Her memoir reignited outrage, forcing the current royal leadership to distance itself even further from the disgraced prince.
On October 17, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III had formally stripped Andrew of the Duke of York title and all remaining honours. Two weeks later, he was ordered to vacate his Windsor residence, the Royal Lodge, and will henceforth be known only as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
