Other sources paint an even darker picture. One insider alleged Andrew lost his virginity at just 11 years old, sparking a lifelong obsession. Another claimed that, while holidaying in destinations such as Bangkok, hotel staff witnessed a stream of women — “more than 10 a day” — being escorted to his room.

The Epstein connection

A large portion of Lownie’s work revisits Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. While Andrew has long maintained he first met Epstein in 1999, the book argues their ties began nearly a decade earlier.

Epstein’s former driver recounted transporting Andrew to New York’s Gansevoort Hotel alongside two young women “around eighteen” who were allegedly using cocaine. Lownie argues Epstein “played” Andrew, exploiting the prince’s weakness for women to gain respectability, political access and business opportunities.

The book also revisits the allegations of Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to Andrew between 2000 and 2002, when she was 17. Giuffre accused the Duke of sexual abuse and battery, claims he denied before reaching a financial settlement with her in 2022.

Following that settlement, Andrew issued a statement pledging to “demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein.”