New biography claims former royal couple’s past is more tangled than previously known
Sarah Ferguson has reportedly been rocked by a fresh revelation surrounding Prince Andrew, as a new royal biography alleges that the Duke of York had a long-standing romantic relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell—beyond the friendship he has publicly admitted.
Although divorced for nearly two decades, the Duchess of York has continued to share Royal Lodge with her former husband and has publicly defended him throughout numerous controversies. But a new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by royal biographer Andrew Lownie, offers an explosive new twist.
The author claims that Andrew and Maxwell—known for her criminal association with Jeffrey Epstein—were not just friends but “occasional lovers” over the years. According to Lownie, it was through this closeness with Maxwell that Andrew became entangled in Epstein’s inner circle, a connection that would later lead to public disgrace and the loss of his royal duties.
Andrew’s infamous 2019 BBC interview, in which he described Maxwell as “Epstein’s girlfriend,” did little to dispel speculation. But Lownie’s revelations suggest a deeper and more personal bond, alleging Maxwell even managed Andrew’s social calendar and influenced his lifestyle and wardrobe following his departure from the Royal Navy in 2001.
“She introduced him to many of the women with whom he had brief flings,” Lownie writes, “but she also drew him further into Epstein’s net.” He adds that Andrew, during that period, seemed to be “rediscovering his youth,” with a friend quoted as saying, “He’s spiraling out of control… dressing like a 25-year-old in jeans and a blazer.”
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking network and was reportedly re-interviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2025.
Meanwhile, Ferguson, who has always stood by Andrew through scandal and backlash, may now be facing a personal reckoning with these latest revelations. In past interviews, she has called him “a great man with a great heart,” showing unwavering loyalty.
The former couple, who co-parent their daughters, continue to live under the same roof at Royal Lodge, despite increasing pressure from within the royal family and the public over Andrew’s continued presence on royal property.
With this latest chapter unfolding, the Duchess of York finds herself once again caught in the shadows of her ex-husband’s past—a past that appears even more complicated than previously thought.
