Speaking in a recent interview, Lownie claims that Andrew is deeply anxious about what lies ahead. With King Charles battling cancer, Andrew is said to fear that the protection he once enjoyed within the royal family is running out.
“William is going to deal with him,” Lownie said, adding that the Prince of Wales wants the matter resolved sooner rather than later.
Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, suggests that Prince William wants to “clean the stables” — a blunt way of saying he wants to remove ongoing scandals linked to Andrew before he eventually becomes king. Publicly, the plan may look polite and orderly, with Andrew stepping aside quietly by spring. Privately, Lownie believes it will be far messier.
At 65, Andrew is described as someone who rarely follows instructions without resistance. Lownie predicts he will fight any move, demanding significant guarantees in return, including a large home, full staff, and personal drivers and cooks.
Prince Andrew’s fall from grace has been dramatic. Once seen as a favorite son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he has since lost his royal titles and privileges. He was forced to leave Royal Lodge, his longtime residence, and is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, also lost her title as Duchess of York.
Much of Andrew’s disgrace stems from his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Andrew denied the claims but reached a multi-million-dollar settlement with Giuffre in 2022. Giuffre later died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
Further damage came with the release of a 2021 email linked to the Epstein case, in which Andrew allegedly asked Ghislaine Maxwell if she had “found me some new inappropriate friends.” Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
Lownie says that as he prepares a paperback edition of his book, new allegations continue to surface. According to him, former classmates, naval colleagues, diplomats, staff members, and even intelligence insiders have come forward with stories they were previously unwilling to share.
“These stories come almost daily,” Lownie said, describing accounts that include alleged inappropriate behavior, harassment of staff, and claims of Andrew bringing prostitutes to hotels abroad. Some former protection officers reportedly described unwanted physical contact and behavior they found disturbing.
Lownie also claims that Andrew’s once-close relationship with Sarah Ferguson has ended. He believes she now sees Andrew as “toxic” and is attempting to reinvent herself without him.
“She’s cut loose,” Lownie said, describing Ferguson as someone who has always managed to survive scandals and return in a new form.
For Andrew, however, the loss of his title appears to be the deepest blow. Lownie says Andrew once described himself as “a Prince first, a naval officer second, and a husband third.” Without his royal status, Andrew can no longer appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony or enjoy the attention that once defined his identity.
As Prince William’s influence grows, Lownie believes the message is clear: the future king wants fewer scandals and less baggage. Whether Prince Andrew will step aside quietly or resist to the end remains an open question, but the days of royal protection, it seems, are coming to an end.
