5 reasons why Prince Andrew is one of the most controversial royals ever – inviting Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein to Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday was only the beginning

Jan 6 , 2022

Prince Andrew with Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Getty Images

January is off to a challenging start for Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s third child. The British royal has been sued by Virginia Giuffre for “unspecified damages” in connection to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking and assault cases. While the prince has denied these allegations, his association with the convicted sex offender Epstein has embroiled him in controversy.

But Prince Andrew is no stranger to questionable situations and has made a couple of eyebrow-raising connections over the years.

Here’s a look at the Duke of York’s biggest scandals …

1. His affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew with accuser Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell. Photo: AFP

The most hard-hitting news to have followed Prince Andrew around for the past few years was his friendship with known sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whom he met through Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999. The prince even went as far as having Epstein, Maxwell, and other convicted sex offender and former film producer, Harvey Weinstein, over at his daughter Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday in 2006.

In November 2019, Prince Andrew went on BBC’s Newsnight to share the extent of his and Epstein’s affiliation. The interview was deemed a disaster for him. He stepped down as a senior royal soon after.

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2. His separation from Sarah Ferguson

Former couple Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at their wedding in London, in 1986. Photo: AP

After a whirlwind romance, a royal wedding at Westminster Abbey and two daughters (Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie), Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson decided to separate in 1992. Five months later, a scandal between “Fergie” and American businessman John Bryan – involving suggestive leaked photos – infuriated the queen, further widening the rift between Ferguson and her royal in-laws.

After she and the prince divorced in 1996, she disclosed much of her royal life in a public memoir. The pair, however, are said to be in good standing today and Ferguson has been making her way back into the royal inner circle in recent years.

3. Questionable spending

Britain’s Prince Andrew was dubbed “Air Miles Andy” by tabloids for using helicopters and planes instead of cars as transport. Photo: AFP

Prince Andrew has always been associated with his frivolous lifestyle and was even nicknamed “Air Miles Andy” by tabloids. While other royals tried to demonstrate frugality, Prince Andrew often holidayed in luxurious accommodation and made a habit of using the queen’s helicopter as a means of transport, specifically to golf gatherings.

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4. Holidays and meals with shady personalities

Britain’s Prince Andrew has been embroiled in a number of scandals over the years. Photo: Reuters

Royals are known to have an extensive phone book of high-profile connections, but Prince Andrew’s relationships have included many questionable characters – one of which is Tarek Kaituni, a Libyan man who was convicted of gun smuggling in 2005. He helped to arrange meetings between the prince and the late dictator Colonel Gaddafi, according to The Sun. The prince and the convict took a Tunisian holiday together in 2008 and the prince also accepted a US$30,000 gold necklace as a gift for Princess Beatrice.

In 2011, Prince Andrew was reported to have hosted a lunch for Sakher el-Materi, the son-in-law of Tunisia’s deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, over at Buckingham Palace, according to Daily Mail.

5. A slew of romantic links

Prince Andrew chats to his ex-girlfriend, photographer Koo Stark. Photo: Reuters

Aside from links to corrupt leaders, the Duke of York has been spotted with many beautiful celebrities by his side. His “first love” was photographer Koo Stark in 1980, who had starred in an adult film before she dated Andrew, reports Town & Country.

After his divorce from Ferguson, Prince Andrew was linked to many women, such as model Alexandra Escat, TV personality Caroline Stanbury, Playboy model Denise Martell and Angie Everhart.

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Royalty

The Duke of York isn’t a stranger to controversy – he once invited Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein to Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party
The British royal has also been linked to a slew of celebrities such as photographer Koo Stark, TV personality Caroline Stanbury and Playboy model Denise Martell