Royal Historian Claims Prince Andrew ‘Always Felt the Rules Did Not Apply to Him’ in Explosive New Book

In his bombshell new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, royal historian Andrew Lownie paints a damning portrait of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson. He describes Fergie as a money-hungry opportunist who squandered millions on her extravagant lifestyle, and Andrew as a lecherous bore who used his royal status to seduce scores of women and bully staff. “Andrew,” writes Lownie, “has always felt the rules did not apply to him.”

The exes, both 65 — parents to Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 35 — shocked royal watchers with their 1996 divorce. (They remain tight, and still live together at the Royal Lodge.) And the younger brother of King Charles III continued to cause trouble with his “Randy Andy” reputation and his friendships with shady characters, including convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II stripped her second son of his royal titles after he settled out of court with a woman claiming he’d sexually assaulted her when she was 17. A source tells Star Andrew both resented and benefited from being a spare to the heir — and that toxic combination led to his atrocious behavior. “Andrew clearly found it difficult to feel important within the royal family,” says the source. “On the other hand, it allowed him freedom that Charles didn’t have. That’s why he got into so much trouble all the time. He had free rein.”

Bad Company

He took full advantage. Lownie cites numerous accounts of Andrew’s sleazy ways. According to the Daily Mail, a Reuters correspondent claims more than 40 women were brought to Andrew’s hotel room during a stay in Bangkok while on royal duty. A masseuse who worked at the Wentworth Golf Club tells Lownie that Andrew was a “constant sex pest” who once said, ‘Hey, nice arse. Do you take it up the arse?’”

Andrew could be “cruel” to staff and non-royals. Lownie says the Duke of York called the longtime head of household at Hillsborough Castle a “f**king imbecile” for not referring to the Queen Mother by her proper title, and that he once had another staffer moved to a different post because he “disliked a mole on the man’s face.”

He had questionable relationships with powerful people, including Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019 (“The prince was a useful idiot who gave [Epstein] respectability, access to political leaders and business opportunities,” Lownie writes), and a convicted Libyan gun-smuggler, who reportedly gifted Beatrice a $24K diamond necklace for her 21st birthday.

Reckless Spending

Initially, Fergie seemed like a breath of fresh air within the royal family, but opinions changed quickly. She was loud and brash and unfaithful to Andrew. (Lownie claims it was after Andrew stepped out on Fergie with a dozen women within their first year of marriage.) And her spending was out of control. She splashed out hundreds of thousands on clothes, psychics, champagne and vacations to Switzerland and the South of France. Her post-divorce household staff — including a butler, chauffeur, cook and secretary — cost $42,000 a month.

She used her royal status to make money — her series of children’s books about Budgie the Helicopter were estimated to have made more than $3 million, but by 1995 she claimed to be in debt for $3.7 million, per Daily Mail. She’s also shilled for Weight Watchers and on QVC, and was accused of using money meant for charity on herself. “Fergie is always looking for ways to make money,” says the source. “Some of her schemes work, others fail miserably.”

Royal Nightmare

Like most things Andrew, the tell-all is “another huge headache” for Charles, 76, and Prince William, 43, says the source. “Charles and William are said to be furious that Andrew continues to bring disgrace to the monarchy.”

After years of trying to evict Andrew from the 30-room Royal Lodge, the king has reportedly backed down — but Andrew may have less luck when William takes the throne. “Andrew and Fergie are a problem William is going to inherit,” adds the source. “Whether he wants it or not.”