Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, long regarded as an influential member of the British royal family, became the center of a major scandal linked to his ties to predator and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Accusations of sexual assault, a disastrous interview, forced withdrawal from public life, and arrest in 2026: a look back at the spectacular fall of the favorite son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor was born on February 19, 1960, at Buckingham Palace in London. He is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh—central figures in the British monarchy of the 20th century. Coming from a royal background, Andrew was educated at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, a traditional but tough institution where his father and older brother, the future King Charles III, were also educated.
Rather than leading a strictly ceremonial life, he embarked on a military career. He joined the Royal Navy, served as a helicopter pilot, and even took part in the Falklands War in 1982. After leaving the navy, Andrew held several official roles for the Crown. He represented the United Kingdom around the world, notably as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment until 2011.
A prince linked to a sexual predator
Former Prince Andrew met Jeffrey Epstein in 1999, introduced to him by his friend Ghislaine Maxwell, heiress to a media mogul and well known in bourgeois and jet-set circles. The following year, the American businessman and the member of the British royal family traveled together on several occasions. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor appears in a famous photo with Virginia Giuffre (then 17 years old) and Ghislaine Maxwell. This image would become central to the subsequent accusations.
In 2008, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from minors in Florida. Nevertheless, Andrew continued to be photographed or seen with him at social events until 2010. The following year, after compromising photos were published in the press and an email exchange revealing his continued contact with Epstein came to light, Andrew stepped down from his role as special envoy for trade.
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A few years later, in 2015, US court documents related to Epstein mentioned Virginia Giuffre’s accusations against Andrew for the first time. He allegedly had sex with her when she was a minor (17 years old) and a victim of sex trafficking orchestrated by Epstein and Maxwell. Although Buckingham Palace publicly denied these allegations, the news caused widespread shock and collective outrage. His image as a socialite seducer did little to calm the scandal.
In 2019, the Epstein scandal broke. The businessman was arrested for sex trafficking of minors in several US states, his victims aged between 14 and 17. Investigation documents revealed a list of prestigious guests who had traveled with him on his plane to his island, where private “parties” were held, as well as to his apartments. This wide circle of influential people included celebrities, politicians, and business leaders. The case reopened the Andrew file, and all eyes turned to him once again. The world waited for a response.
The disastrous interview
In November 2019, the current king’s brother decided to speak out. He gave an interview to BBC Newsnight in which he denied any wrongdoing and claimed not to remember meeting Virginia Giuffre. The interview was perceived as disastrous and led to a decline in his popularity and credibility, triggering his virtual removal from the media spotlight. A few days later, Andrew announced that he was stepping down from his public duties for an indefinite period—a decision accepted by Queen Elizabeth II. He ceased all official public engagements, lost the support of numerous sponsors and associations, and virtually disappeared from official royal appearances. However, he retained his honorary military titles and royal status.
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Epstein’s death in prison certainly compromises the investigation, but it does not remove suspicions about Andrew’s involvement in the case. In 2021, Virginia Giuffre filed an official civil lawsuit against him for rape and sexual assault, claiming that the acts took place in a New York apartment, on the private island of Little Saint James (Caribbean), and in a residence in London. Andrew continues to deny these accusations. At the same time, Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors.
In February 2022, the former prince reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in the United States, without admitting guilt. The civil lawsuit was therefore settled without a trial, but the allegations remain public knowledge.
On February 19, 2026, Andrew was arrested in Sandringham as part of an investigation linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The police suspected him of “misconduct in public office,” in particular for potentially sharing sensitive information while he was special trade envoy in the 2000s.
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After approximately eleven hours in custody, he is released “under investigation”: no immediate charges are brought, but investigations are still ongoing, with several searches conducted in Windsor and elsewhere. His brother, Charles III, states that “the law must take its course,” affirming the palace’s support for the authorities.
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