The explosive dossier that ended Andrew and Fergie’s reign

The latest move marks the fourth time in recent years that the king, 76, has tried to contain the fallout surrounding his younger brother. He was reportedly among those who encouraged Andrew to appear on BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 – an interview that became a public relations disaster. At the time, Charles, then Prince of Wales, believed Andrew’s declarations of innocence and thought the interview would “clear the air”. The insider said: “That ended in disaster and woe betide anyone who now mentions his involvement.”

In 2022, as the late queen’s platinum anniversary approached, Charles again tried to close the case by pushing Andrew to settle Virginia Giuffre’s civil sex abuse claim out of court — a settlement that was reportedly financed by Charles and the queen, for a total of $12 million.

But the scandal has only grown. The release of Andrew Lownie’s Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York and Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs, Nobody’s girldetailing her alleged encounters with Andrew when she was 17 has reignited public outrage. Palace officials were reportedly shocked after receiving advance copies, especially Queen Camilla, a long-time advocate against sexual abuse.