After more reports emerged of his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, and a link to an alleged Chinese spy, Prince Andrew has given up his titles, including the Duke of York.
But just how did Queen Elizabeth’s third-born child end up here?
2001: In March of this year, Virginia Giuffre alleged he had sex with her when she was 17 and that she had been trafficked by his friend Epstein, who was later jailed for 18 months for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Andrew denies the allegations.
2011: Andrew resigned as the UK’s special trade envoy following criticism of his links to Epstein. The prince had held the role since 2001 with a remit to promote Britain’s business interests abroad.
He was also facing questions about his friendship with Said Gadhafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
2015: Allegations that Andrew had sex with Giuffre emerge in court documents.
2019: Epstein is arrested for a second time on charges of sex trafficking and later found dead in a New York jail cell. His death was ruled to be a suicide.
Nov 2019: Later that same year, Andrew attempts to staunch the flood of criticism by agreeing to an on-camera grilling by BBC reporter Emily Maitlis.
The interview included the claim that he was in a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking on a night he is accused of having sex with Giuffre.
In the prime time interview, Andrew says he broke off contact with Epstein in December 2010.
2020: Buckingham Palace announces that Andrew will suspend all royal duties “for the foreseeable future”. Four days later, the prince is stripped of his role as patron of 230 charities.
2022: Andrew agrees to settle a New York civil lawsuit filed by Giuffre. Andrew maintains his innocence regarding Giuffre’s allegations. Legal experts estimated at the time that the undisclosed settlement cost Andrew as much as £12m.
2024: Andrew’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy are revealed in court documents.
The businessman and suspected spy was barred from the UK because of concerns he posed a threat to national security. Security officials were concerned that the man could have misused his influence over Andrew.
Jan 2025: It is revealed that Andrew sent an email to Epstein on 28 February 2011, more than two months after the prince said he cut off all contact with his one-time friend. In it, he told Epstein they would “play some more soon!”
Andrew wrote the email after continued media reporting about the Epstein scandal, also telling him they were “in this together” and would “have to rise above it”.
April 2025: Giuffre took her own life in Australia, her family say. She had lived there since about 2002.
October 2025: Andrew gives up his titles, including the Duke of York.
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