Royal allegations prompt renewed scrutiny

A new book and a Channel 5 documentary allege Prince Andrew mistreated staff and reveal harsh behavior.

Prince Andrew faces fresh allegations of staff mistreatment

A new book by royal biographer Andrew Lownie and a Channel 5 documentary bring renewed scrutiny to Prince Andrew. The Rise and Fall Of The House of York describes him as horrible to staff, with accounts that he treats workers as subordinates and sometimes summons help from distant parts of the palace. The 90 minute program Andrew and Fergie The Duke and Duchess of Excess revisits Andrew’s life, his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and the couple’s luxury lifestyle. It notes that he stepped away from public duties in 2019 after the Epstein controversy and has since appeared at family events. The reporting relies on former staff and biographers who describe a pattern of difficult behavior, while the palace has not issued a direct response to the new claims.

The reporting underscores how private conduct and power dynamics inside a royal household can become public discourse. Even when a royal steps back from daily duties, questions about temperament and treatment of staff can shape a lasting narrative. The coverage also illustrates how media projects, books, and documentaries feed a continuous cycle of scrutiny, potentially widening a sense of inevitability around controversy in the monarchy. At the same time, some friends of Andrew push back, arguing the claims are not new and not accurate, highlighting the challenge of separating memory from recent media framing.

Highlights

Public interest in royal life persists even as the public square reshapes how accountability is discussed.