<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Once widely reputed to be Queen Elizabeth's favourite son and feted as a dashing young military officer, Britain's Prince Andrew will now always be seen in the public eye as the royal who was accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andrew, 65, said </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/prince-andrew-gives-up-duke-of-york-title/81be27be-2411-4712-8cd5-270ebd64d8d4" rel="" target="_blank" title="he would give up his title of Duke of York "><span>he would give up his title of Duke of York</span></a><span> after years of criticism about his connections to the late, disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The brother of King Charles was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates, and in February 2022 he made an undisclosed payment to settle a US lawsuit.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/barnaby-joyce-to-leave-the-nationals-amid-speculation-of-defection-to-one-nation/cef8e827-1f60-4024-8335-3326e0a0aa8b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Relationship irreparably broke down': Barnaby Joyce to leave the Nationals</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>By the Queen's side</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While he admitted no wrongdoing, Andrew - who had already stepped down as a working royal over his relationship with Epstein and following a disastrous BBC interview in which he had hoped to clear his name - was stripped of his military links, royal patronages and 'His Royal Highness' moniker.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I never have really partied," he told the BBC.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/prince-andrew-the-british-royal-brought-down-by-scandal/e7d08ad0-e04c-493c-a86b-3f356db6ff8e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was single for quite a long time in the early 80s but then after I got married, I was very happy and I've never really felt the need to go and party and certainly going to Jeffrey's was not about partying."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Increasingly unloved by the public, he was cast aside by his family who saw him as an embarrassment who might cause lasting damage to their whole institution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reforms-to-hit-australian-schools-as-bullying-crackdown-continues/a3027903-c84a-49e8-bad6-f86afd8e6a69" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sweeping reforms set to hit every school across Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Only his late mother seemed to retain her affections, allowing him to escort her into a memorial service for her husband Prince Philip in March 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His public appearances thereafter were limited to major family occasions such as the funeral of the queen later that year and his brother's coronation in 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier in his career, he served in the navy for 22 years and in 2001 he was named the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a role he held until he was pilloried for his connections to Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Until that point, Andrew was probably best known for his 1986 marriage to the vivacious, flame-haired Sarah Ferguson, or "Fergie" as she was dubbed by the press.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-he-has-commuted-sentence-of-george-santos/f63d2180-8d25-4b7c-a89b-87bf5c34dea9" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump says he has commuted sentence of disgraced former politician</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They separated in 1992, not long after he moved to a desk job at the Ministry of Defence so he could be at home more.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was a year of travails and scandals for the royal family, which the queen described as an "annus horribilis".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andrew was said to be devastated by the break-up from his wife, who described him as a gentle man who deserved to be loved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple had two children, Beatrice and Eugenie, and the family remained close and on good terms after they divorced in 1996, going on holiday together and sharing the same house.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/global-tipping-points-report-the-great-barrier-reef-is-facing-catastrophic-risks-climate-change/cb9b0f0a-f437-4287-9fbc-9a07330fefd8" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The Great Barrier Reef is facing 'catastrophic' risks – don't despair</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>'Air Miles Andy'</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After leaving the military, Andrew's personal life still hit the headlines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tabloids linked him to a series of women, from swimwear models to entrepreneurs. Photographs appeared of Andrew cavorting on yachts or sunbathing surrounded by topless women.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The papers dubbed him "Air Miles Andy" for his jetset lifestyle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But his long-term friendship with Epstein, who was jailed in 2008 for child sex offences, began to haunt him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-in-fbomb-blast-as-tensions-rise-between-us-and-venezuela/469ab751-9ac7-4415-9582-da0315ce3aca" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump in f-bomb blast as tensions rise between US and Venezuela</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was forced to quit his roving trade ambassador job in 2011 and Giuffre filed her allegations against him in 2015.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To critics, his downfall was a consequence of an arrogance and sense of entitlement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A former royal protection officer told an ITV documentary that Andrew would throw tantrums if the teddy bears on his bed were moved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With his reputation declining, Andrew turned his focus to a scheme called "Pitch@Palace", which aimed to use his royal influence to help young tech entrepreneurs find partners and investors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/john-bolton-pleads-not-guilty-in-justice-department-case-accusing-him-of-sharing-government-secrets/90650e7d-e5c5-4acd-b0ad-ee7823f2a60d" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Former Trump adviser pleads not guilty in classified documents case</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But his royal world came crashing down not long after he gave what turned out to be a calamitous interview to BBC TV to explain why Giuffre's account of meeting him sweating and dancing at a London nightclub before having sex with him could not be true.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was ridiculed for saying he went to see Epstein in New York to tell him he could no longer be seen with him, for saying Giuffre's story was wrong because he was visiting a pizza restaurant to celebrate his daughter's birthday on the night in question, and for saying he was unable to sweat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/weather-world-is-heading-to-add-57-superhot-days-a-year-but-study-indicates-it-could-have-been-worse/4410926b-de5e-4142-adb0-e849e8ac2ea9" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The world is heading to add 57 superhot days a year</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also criticised for failing to show sympathy for those who say they were abused by Epstein and for saying he was not sorry about his friendship with the financier.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein," he said in a later statement as he quit official royal duties.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it came too late to save his reputation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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