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Reports about Prince William allegedly encouraging King Charles to strip Prince Andrew of his Duke of York title (something gifted to him by the late Queen Elizabeth II) have been circulating for some time. But it wasn’t October 17—just days ahead of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, accusing Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teenager, being released—that the disgraced royal finally announced his decision to “no longer use” his title.
In his statement, Andrew said he stands by his “decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” while still “vigorously” denying the accusations made against him. This isn’t all that surprising, considering how Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, even claiming during an infamous Newsnight interview that he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre and that the photo she shared of the pair could be a fake.
Here, we chart Prince Andrew’s links to Epstein and his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, who in 2021 was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking and sexually abusing minors.
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Photo of Prince Andrew, Virgina Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell
1999
Pictures dating back to the summer of 1999—that were shown in Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial—show Prince Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell together at the Royal Family’s beloved Scottish residence, Balmoral. It’s reported that this is the first year Prince Andrew and Epstein became acquainted, via Maxwell.
2000
The Prince and Epstein grow closer, and in the February of this year are spotted (along with Maxwell) at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. Later that year, Epstein and Maxwell are invited to celebrate the birthdays of multiple Royal Family members at Windsor Castle, including Prince Andrew’s 40th.
Davidoff Studios Photography//Getty Images
Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida (12 February 2000)
2001
Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) alleges that, at age 17, she was trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions, starting with an initial encounter at Maxwell’s London townhouse in March 2001. In court filings and her memoir, released in October 2025, Giuffre also alleges that she had sex with Andrew on Epstein’s private island and in his New York residence.
Another Epstein survivor will also later allege when testifying in a 2016 deposition that the Prince groped her breast around this time.
The Prince has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and rejected these claims, and Buckingham Palace previously issued a statement saying “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.”
2008
Jeffrey Epstein is formally convicted in Florida on charges of procuring a minor for prostitution (soliciting an underage girl). He serves a 13-month jail sentence as part of an eyebrow-raising plea deal.
2009
Epstein’s former housekeeper will later testify that Andrew visited Epstein’s mansion the following year, knowing about the conviction in its entirety and that Epstein is now on the sex offender register, and received “daily massages” during one stay.
It is reported that the Prince’s ex-wife, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson, Duchess of York, also resumes contact with Epstein after his prison sentence, and emails sent by Epstein brand her “desperate” for money, after she allegedly asks for £15,000.
Samir Hussein//Getty Images
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson pictured at Ascot races in 2015
Further leaked emails suggest Fergie was “the first to celebrate” the disgraced financier’s release from prison and visited Epstein (along with her children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie) in New York for his “welcome home” party. According to a report in The Telegraph, a source close to the Duchess and two Princesses claims they have no memory of such a trip.
2010
Prince Andrew is photographed visiting Epstein in December in New York City. He later claims in 2019 that he only visited Epstein to “end their friendship in person” and labelled the trip a “mistake,” admitting he “let the side down.”
January 2011
The Duchess of York emails Epstein to thank him for sending over money allowing her to pay off personal debts: “My dear, dear friend Jeffrey, How can I thank you enough? You are a friend indeed… You have my heart. With lots of love, dear Jeffrey.”
February 2011
Media pressure mount as it’s revealed that Prince Andrew is still in contact with Epstein. In one email exchange, the royal tells Epstein: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!” and assures his friend they are “in this together.”
March 2011
The Epstein-Andrew connection explodes in the British press. News breaks that Epstein had helped Fergie with a £15,000 loan, and the photos of Andrew walking with Epstein in 2010 are published, The Guardian writes.
Under pressure, Sarah Ferguson publicly disowns Epstein in a March 2011 interview, calling him “a pedophile” and admitting accepting his money was a “terrible, terrible error of judgment.”
Prince Andrew is summoned for crisis talks at Buckingham Palace with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II and his public duties and role in trade is questioned.
April 2011
Despite having publicly distanced herself from Epstein, after a “chilling” phone call, Fergie privately sends him an email branding him a “supreme friend” and apologizing for what she said about him, after he reacted with fury to her public condemnation.
The Duchess’ spokesperson later claims she sent this email under legal advice in an effort to placate Epstein’s legal threats.
July 2011
The backlash forces Prince Andrew to end his role as UK trade envoy (effectively a royal demotion), marking the first major repercussion for his Epstein link.
Handout//Getty Images
Jeffrey Epstein’s mugshot
2015
After a quieter few years, Prince Andrew’s past with Epstein returns to haunt him as Virginia Giuffre’s allegations are filed in a US court (challenging Epstein’s plea deal), in which she named Andrew as one of the men Epstein and Maxwell forced her to have sex with while she was underage. In response, the Palace issues a statement repeating the Prince’s denials of any wrongdoing.
2016
As part of a civil suit against Maxwell, Giuffre gives sworn testimony and claims Epstein paid her over £11,000 after she slept with Andrew. Under oath, she describes in lurid detail a sexual encounter in the bathtub at Maxwell’s London home: “He was adorning my young body, particularly my feet, caressing my toes and licking my arches.” Prince Andrew’s team attempts to label this as a “false memory.”
July 2019
Jeffrey Epstein is arrested again on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. The arrest reignites scrutiny of Prince Andrew. Just weeks later, on 10 August, Epstein is found dead at the age of 66 in his jail cell in an apparent suicide.
August 2019
Buckingham Palace issues a statement saying that Prince Andrew is “appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes” and “his Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being.” It adds that “the suggestion he would condone, participate in, or encourage any such behavior is abhorrent.”
Pressure continues to mount as more Epstein court documents are unsealed.
November 14, 2019
In the now-infamous BBC Newsnight interview (recorded November 14), Prince Andrew attempts to defend his reputation—making claims spanning from the “fact” he cannot sweat (when Giuffre has said he “sweated” over her on a dance floor), to swearing he was in a Pizza Express on the night Giuffre claims they had sex—but the effort disastrously backfires.
The Prince also alleges he has “no recollection of ever meeting” Giuffre, despite the photo of them together and when asked if he now regrets his friendship with Epstein replies, “Still not, and the reason being that the people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn—either by him or because of him—were actually very useful.”
November 20, 2019
Prince Andrew “steps back” from royal duties in the wake of the interview’s fallout. In a statement sanctioned by the Queen, Andrew announces he will “withdraw from public duties for the foreseeable future.”
January 2020
Despite Andrew’s public offer to assist investigators, U.S. authorities complain of his silence. Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announces that Prince Andrew has provided “zero co-operation” with the FBI’s Epstein inquiry.
Mark Cuthbert//Getty Images
July 2020
Prince Andrew’s official website is taken offline and redirects to the general Royal Family one instead.
August 2021
Virginia Giuffre launches a civil lawsuit in New York against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexual assault/battery when she was 17. The filing details three encounters in 2001 and claims emotional and psychological harm by the royal. Andrew’s lawyers move to dismiss the case, citing a 2009 Epstein settlement that allegedly immunized third parties.
January 12, 2022
A federal judge denies Andrew’s motion to dismiss.
January 13, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II strips Prince Andrew of his remaining military titles (after outrage from serving soldiers and veterans) and royal patronages in a bid to distance the monarchy from the scandal. Via a Palace statement, the Queen also removes Andrew’s permission to use the style “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity. It is announced that he will defend Giuffre’s lawsuit “as a private citizen.”
February 2022
Rather than face trial, Prince Andrew reaches an out-of-court settlement (for an undisclosed sum) with Virginia Giuffre and makes a public statement acknowledging her as a victim and commends her “bravery.” However, the deal contains a “no admission of liability” element.
April 2025
Prince Andrew’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre, sadly ends her life at the age of 41—months before her tell-all memoir is released.
September 2025
Sarah Ferguson’s 2011 email to Epstein is publicly exposed, dragging the Duchess back into the heart of the Epstein scandal. The Mail on Sunday obtains and publishes the apology email in which Prince Andrew’s ex calls the convicted sex offender her “steadfast”and “supreme friend.”
Several UK children’s charities and organizations for which Ferguson served as patron swiftly cut ties with her and the Duchess’ spokesperson announces she only sent the email to placate Epstein’s threats of a defamation suit and that “as soon as she was aware of the extent of [Epstein’s crimes], she cut off contact and condemned him publicly,” maintaining that she “does not resile from” those condemnations.
October 17, 2025
Prince Andrew releases a statement via Buckingham Palace announcing he will no longer use his Duke of York title: “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.
“I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Many speculate that Prince William urged King Charles to push Prince Andrew into rescinding the title.
October 20, 2025
Shortly after Fergie’s email scandal hits the headlines, Virginia Guiffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl, is released posthumously and alleges Prince Andrew acted as though “sleeping [with her at the age of 17] was his birthright.” The book further details how Epstein and Maxwell lured the vulnerable teenager into a sex trafficking ring, and how she believed she would die a sex slave.