The British royal family operates “like a mafia clan,” according to royal biographer Andrew Lownie, who accuses senior Windsors—most notably Prince Andrew—of using their positions for financial gain.
Speaking to TA NEA, Lownie said his research uncovered “shocking levels of financial corruption at the heart of the royal household.” The remarks coincide with the success of his new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which quickly topped the Sunday Times bestseller list after its August release.
The comments come just after King Charles III reportedly decided to strip Andrew of his princely title—he will henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—and require him to vacate his official residence, Royal Lodge. The move follows a series of scandals linking the Duke of York, who has already lost all formal titles, to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“He used his royal role for profit”
Lownie claims Andrew “exploited his position as Britain’s special trade envoy” between 2001 and 2011 to secure lucrative personal deals abroad. “He made a great deal of money in the Middle East and China,” the author said, alleging that millions passed through offshore and Chinese bank accounts and that Andrew received a $5 million bribe in Kazakhstan.
According to the biographer, Andrew also engaged in business ventures in the Adriatic and Montenegro, involving marina and hotel developments.
Lownie further alleges that Queen Elizabeth II knew of her son’s activities but shielded him from scrutiny. “She protected him,” he said. “Even when presented with evidence of bribery, she refused to allow any investigation. Ambassadors were warned not to file negative reports—or risk being reassigned to Nigeria.”
Palace protection and internal rifts
Despite multiple scandals, the late Queen “turned a blind eye to anything concerning her favorite son,” often clashing with Prince Philip, who believed the situation was “very bad,” Lownie told the paper.
He portrays Andrew—the eighth in line to the throne—as “a pathetic bully who takes pleasure in belittling those around him,” adding that both he and his former wife Sarah Ferguson maintained close ties with Epstein. “Many of Andrew’s victims were Russian girls,” Lownie claimed.
While King Charles understands the damage Andrew has caused, he is “too weak to act decisively,” Lownie said, suggesting that Prince William takes a far harder line. “He can’t stand Andrew and will be the one to clean things up—especially if Charles dies soon, which is quite possible.”
“No accountability”
Lownie’s book is based on years of investigation and interviews with 300 sources. “It was very difficult—most people were unwilling to talk. The royal family is over-protected, which allows figures like Andrew and Ferguson to escape consequences. There’s no oversight or accountability,” he said.
He added that he spent four years trying to access government records from Andrew’s time as trade envoy. “Those files remain closed, despite the law requiring them to be public. It’s a conspiracy to protect the royal family.”
British tabloid The Daily Mail has called Entitled “the most explosive royal biography ever written.” The book even recalls that in the mid-1980s, under pressure to find Andrew a wife, potential matches reportedly included Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Princess Alexia of Greece, then aged 18 and 17 respectively.
