Prince Andrew’s First Year of Marriage Under New Scrutiny: What Andrew Lownie’s Entitled Alleges—And Why It Matters
By Michael “Mick” Webster
A new royal biography by historian Andrew Lownie, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (published August 2025), alleges that Prince Andrew slept with “more than a dozen women” in the first 12 months of his 1986 marriage to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The claim—sourced in part to a former driver—was first highlighted in reporting by The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast
A volatile marriage—amplified by distance and neglect
According to the book, the relationship was beset early by long naval deployments, emotional strain, and mutual recriminations that hardened into public scandal. Lownie portrays a union suffering from royal indifference and periods of separation that created the conditions for infidelity and resentment. Multiple outlets summarizing the book describe a broader pattern of alleged philandering by Andrew and mounting tensions within the family. (See coverage from The Guardian, Yahoo/Parade roundups, and others.) The GuardianParadeYahoo
Publication details
Entitled is an unauthorized biography that Lownie says took four years to research; he filed numerous public-records requests and interviews to assemble the narrative. The UK edition is published by William Collins with release coverage and retail listings surfacing in mid-August 2025. Sky NewsThe ObserverAmazonMarie Claire UK
The Epstein dimension
Lownie threads these marital revelations into a longer arc—Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—which has defined the duke’s modern public image. The book—and recent reporting—revisit:
- Andrew’s 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, where he denied Giuffre’s allegations and offered explanations (the “Pizza Express” alibi and a claim about not sweating) that drew intense backlash and effectively ended his public royal role. YouTubeThe Guardian
- The 2022 civil settlement with Virginia Giuffre in the U.S., made without admission of liability. The exact amount was confidential, though widely reported figures placed it around £12 million; major outlets at the time noted the sum was not officially disclosed. ABC
Lownie’s wider contention—echoed in multiple previews—is that Epstein leveraged proximity to Andrew to launder status and access, with potential intelligence sensitivities raised by the author (claims that are disputed and not independently verified by authorities). The Guardian
Reactions and denials
Representatives for Prince Andrew and other royals have denied or pushed backon various allegations surfacing around the book. Separate reporting also notes deepening intra-royal tensions, with speculation about future steps a new monarch might take regarding Andrew’s titles—claims that remain speculative and politically complex. The GuardianMarie Claire UKNew York Post
Why these allegations resonate now
- Narrative convergence. The marital claims arrive as the Epstein chapter continues to shadow Andrew’s legacy, reinforcing a portrait—fair or not—of a prince out of step with contemporary expectations of accountability. YouTubeABC
- Institutional credibility. With public trust in institutions under pressure, the monarchy’s handling of Andrew—past and future—has implications for its broader license to operate. Marie Claire UK
- Media dynamics. An unauthorized biography with new sourcing invites intense amplification; yet it also elevates the need for careful attributionand clear labeling as allegations until independently corroborated. Sky News
What’s substantiated vs. alleged
- On the record/public record: the 2019 Newsnight interview and Andrew’s withdrawal from public duties; the existence of a 2022 settlement with Giuffre (terms confidential). YouTubeThe GuardianABC
- Allegations from the new book: “more than a dozen women” in year one of the marriage; broader claims about the scope of Andrew’s sex life; intelligence angles; and characterizations of intra-family behavior. These are Lownie’s assertions and/or those of his sources and should be read as unprovenunless independently verified. The Daily BeasteuronewsThe Guardian
The bottom line
Entitled adds explosive new allegations to the already fraught narrative of Andrew and Fergie’s early marriage and Andrew’s later entanglement with Epstein. The most headline-grabbing claim—that Andrew slept with more than a dozen women in his first married year—will intensify public and institutional pressure, but it remains an allegation in an unauthorized biography. Readers should distinguish between documented facts (interview, settlement, loss of public role) and contested claims that rely on unnamed or single-source accounts pending corroboration. The Daily BeastYouTubeABC
Further reading from reputable outlets covering the new book and its fallout:
Latest reporting on Andrew Lownie’s *Entitled* and Prince Andrew
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