Articles by Emma Mackenzie

Technology

Royal aide's blistering rant about Prince Andrew as dark life behind Palace walls laid bare

The spotlight is currently trained on Prince Andrew as renewed scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein continues. The ongoing scandal saw "furious" King Charles demand that Andrew give up his royal titles and honours last week in a 10-minute phone call last week. It comes after a recent biography, which delves into the life of Andrew and his ex wife Sarah Ferguson, made a number of bombshell claims about the former couple. The explosive tome includes allegations about their finances, marriage and long-term association with paedophile Epstein. Biographer Andrew Lownie also details Andrew's alleged behaviour behind closed doors, including one shocking claim made by a royal insider. The former royal aide, who worked as an equerry for the Queen Mother, claimed that Andrew's approach towards staff was vastly different to his own boss, and that of Andrew's elder brother Charles. Instead, the ex equerry claimed Andrew was a "rude, ignorant sod" and regularly spoke to the Queen Mother's staff in an unpleasant manner. In Lownie's book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, the insider recalls an occasion when someone used the incorrect title for the Queen Mother and Andrew allegedly called them a "f***ing imbecile". "He would talk to the staff, including me, as an officer talks to his subordinates. He would say things such as: 'I want this done and I want it done now' or 'Have that done by such and such a time.' I remember him always saying 'Do it!' which was his catchphrase of sorts," the unnamed source claimed. They added that they didn't think Andrew was "a particularly nice person." "I remember nearly telling him where to go when he came into Clarence House and wanted something wrapped," they said. "He looked at me and barked, 'You, wrap that!' And pointed to some object. I just thought, you rude, ignorant sod, and felt like decking him." Andrew's apparent tendency towards rudeness is also said to have extended to social gatherings. "He was as charming as a bull in a china shop and continued to make inappropriate jokes. He's the most out of touch royal I've ever met and I've met lots. He really does believe in the Divine Right of Kings," one journalist who met him at a party was quoted as saying.