A new unauthorized biography has reignited scrutiny of Prince Andrew, portraying the former Duke of York as a man whose conduct-described by associates as driven by sex, power and entitlement-went unchecked for decades within royal circles, according to claims made by the book's author and sources he cites.
The book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, by historian Andrew Lownie, draws on interviews and archival research to argue that Andrew's behavior was widely known among staff and associates long before he was stripped of royal duties. The allegations add to reputational damage that has followed Andrew since his ties to Jeffrey Epstein became public.
Lownie reports that Epstein himself characterized their relationship in stark terms, quoting the convicted sex offender as saying of Andrew: "We are both serial sex addicts. He's the only person I have met who is more obsessed with power than me." Epstein is further quoted as adding: "From the reports I've got back from the women we've shared, he's the most perverted animal in the bedroom. He likes to engage in stuff that's even kinky to me - and I'm the king of kink!"
The biography alleges that Andrew's conduct extended into official overseas travel. A reporter cited by Lownie recalled that during a 2006 visit to Thailand, when Andrew represented the late Queen at the king's diamond jubilee celebrations, "more than 40 women were brought to his hotel room in Bangkok during his stay." Lownie writes that hotel staff were stunned, adding: "Often, as soon as one left, another would arrive."
Several women interviewed for the book describe encounters they say underscored a pattern of entitlement. One 20-year-old model told Lownie: "He wanted me to engage in kinky sexual activity. He had no boundaries." Another woman said: "He's about as subtle as a hand grenade. His favourite trick is to rub your knee under the table. It's pathetic."
Former staff members also described a workplace culture marked by fear and humiliation. One ex-employee told Lownie: "When I started, I was warned to stay away from him. He would sometimes enter the staff quarters. It seemed everyone was aware of his behaviour, but little was done about it."
Domestic staff offered similar accounts. Wendy Berry, a former housekeeper, recalled: "Apparently his bedtime habits as a single man left a lot to be desired. A collection of scrunched-up, soiled tissues usually lay scattered around the bed each morning for staff to collect after they had made his bed."
Others pointed to a management style they described as openly abusive. Colin Burgess, who served as equerry to the Queen Mother, said: "He would talk to the staff, including me, as an officer talks to his subordinates." Burgess added: "He would say things such as, 'I want this done, and I want it done now.' 'Do it!' was his catchphrase." He concluded: "In all honesty, he wasn't a particularly nice person."
Lownie writes that internal anxiety within Buckingham Palace intensified as separate bullying allegations involving Meghan Markle prompted officials to anticipate complaints about Andrew. According to the book, the palace "braced itself for historic complaints about Prince Andrew's bullying, profanities and impossible demands."
In Lownie's assessment, institutional reluctance to impose consequences allowed patterns of behavior to persist. He writes: "Because Andrew has never been disciplined, he knows he can behave exactly as he wishes."
