**Prince Andrew will never return to public life, says royal biographer**

*Published Oct. 1, 2025, 5:44 p.m. ET*

Prince Andrew will never return to public life, according to royal biographer Andrew Lownie, who reveals that the disgraced duke remains consumed by scandal and frustrated by his loss of royal status.

Lownie, 62, spent four years researching his unauthorized biography, *Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York*. The recently released book charts Andrew’s dramatic rise and fall, drawing on interviews, insider testimony, and hundreds of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests—all of which were rejected by government departments.

### A Life of Isolation

Lownie argues that the secrecy surrounding the monarchy has only deepened public suspicion of the Duke of York, who has remained out of the public eye since his ties to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced in 2019.

The historian stated, “I don’t think he has any public future – I would even say his private life is very limited. He plays golf, watches television, sees his grandchildren, and lives as if retired. The notion that he might return to public duties is simply unrealistic.”

The book highlights how attempts to rebuild Andrew’s reputation have largely faltered. Removed from his military roles and stripped of the style “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity, Andrew has struggled with the loss of his identity.

A source explained, “What frustrates Andrew most is losing his royal status. Wearing the uniform and having that sense of importance defined him, and without it he feels diminished.”

### Public Opinion Turns Against Him

Polls suggest public opinion has hardened significantly against Andrew. A recent YouGov survey found that Andrew, 65, is the most unpopular member of the royal family, with 87% of respondents holding a negative view of him and just 5% viewing him positively.

The survey also revealed a striking generational divide in support for the monarchy more broadly—81% of those over 65 support its continuation, compared with only 41% of respondents aged 18 to 24.

A palace aide commented, “The monarchy can’t expect public trust without openness.”

### Secrecy Fuels Suspicion

Lownie described receiving dozens of letters from the Foreign Office and the Department for Business and Trade declining his FOI requests related to Andrew’s role as a trade envoy in the 2000s. Notably, the royal household and royal archives are completely exempt from FOI legislation.

According to the author, this lack of transparency has only fueled public doubts. “The more secrecy there is,” Lownie argued, “the more suspicion grows around Andrew and the institution as a whole.”

### The Epstein Scandal’s Lasting Impact

The Epstein scandal remains central to Andrew’s decline. His much-criticized 2019 BBC Newsnight interview—during which he claimed he could not sweat and denied meeting Epstein’s trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre—is widely seen as the point of no return.

Although Andrew settled Giuffre’s civil lawsuit in 2022 without admitting liability, Lownie argues that the allegations and associations continue to overshadow him.

A source revealed, “He’s become a liability for the Royal Family. Every story about him dominates headlines, and there’s simply no desire within the institution to restore him. His circumstances are stuck, and unlikely to shift.”

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the book, emphasizing that Andrew is no longer a working royal.
https://radaronline.com/p/prince-andrew-no-public-future-jeffrey-epstein-scandal/