It was the car crash BBC interview that triggered the downfall of Prince Andrew and changed his life forever.
And more than four years on from his infamous grilling by Emily Maitlis on Newsnight, the disgraced Duke of York will have to relive the humiliating episode again with the release of new Netflix drama, Scoop. The show, starring Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell and Gillian Anderson, tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the interview was secured and recreates parts of the explosive chat.
When the interview aired back in November 2019, it sent shockwaves around the world with Andrew declining to say he regretted his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, memorably recalling a visit to Pizza Express and claiming he was medically unable to sweat. In the days immediately after the interview was aired, the Duke's life began to unravel and now it looks very different to the one he once enjoyed…
Sidelined from royal life
Before the Newsnight interview, Andrew had a full diary of royal engagements. In the year before the disastrous chat, he carried out a total of 394 engagements - more than his nephew Prince William.
Andrew's main tasks included promoting British businesses abroad as well receiving foreign dignitaries visiting the UK on behalf of the late Queen. He also helped to set up and run the Dragon's Den style initiative Pitch@Palace, which saw start up business owners connected with potential investors during special events at Buckingham Palace, which proved to be highly successful.
But just days after the interview, Andrew sensationally quit public life "for the foreseeable future". In a statement, approved by the late Queen, he said it had "become clear" to him that his “former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work." He expressed sympathy for the victims of the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, saying he "hoped they could rebuild their lives."
He said: "I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. “His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."
The move meant he missed out on an honorary Navy promotion and he was not awarded the rank of Admiral on his 60th birthday as expected several months later. Andrew now only makes fleeting appearances at royal events that are deemed family occasions. These have included the late Queen's funeral, the King's Coronation and a memorial for the former King Constantine of Greece. However eyebrows were raised when he played a prominent role at a memorial service for Prince Philip, which saw him escort his mother into Westminster Abbey.
Most recently he joined a small group of royals at St George’s Chapel in Windsor for Easter Sunday church service. He’s not been forced to skip other royal milestones, including Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday and Commonwealth Day, with a case of Covid ruled him out of taking part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
He was also noticeably absent from the official photos from his oldest daughter Princess Beatrice’s lockdown wedding. Beatrice wed husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a low-key ceremony in Windsor under Covid restrictions.
Fewer than 20 guests attended – a far cry from the 2018 wedding of her sister, Princess Eugenie, to Jack Brooksbank in 2018, which was broadcast on TV. When it came to the official wedding photos released to the public, the father of the bride didn't appear in any of them, with the late Queen and Prince Philip the only royals shown with the beaming bride and her new husband. The decision to release snaps without him was thought to have been taken by the family alongside advice from courtiers.
Civil lawsuit
But things appeared to go from bad to worse for Andrew, as in early 2021, Virginia Giuffre began the process of suing Andrew in a civil sexual assault case in New York. She alleged she was told by Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with the Prince at Epstein's mansion in New York and at other locations when she was 17. The prince has always denied the allegations and said he has "no recollection" of ever meeting her.
As a court case loomed, in early 2022, the late Queen summoned her second son to a crunch meeting, where the former monarch broke the news he would no longer be known as His Royal Highness "in any official capacity". Many of his military titles and patronage associations were removed in another blow. Eventually, Andrew and his accuser reached an out-of-court settlement, thought to be worth £12million. The settlement contained no admission of liability, guilt or wrongdoing on Prince Andrew's part.
Row over crumbling home
He still lives in his 30-room Windsor home Royal Lodge, which he shares with his former wife Sarah Ferguson. The pair have remained close despite their divorce almost 30 years ago, with Fergie even joining Andrew at church this Easter Sunday.
As part of the King's plans to scale down the monarchy, Andrew had been offered a move from his mansion to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, which had been recently renovated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But he was eventually granted permission by the King to stay indefinitely at Royal Lodge, after thrashing out a deal with the monarch. He was granted a "stay of execution”, despite his annual £250,000 handout being cut by the King and his home needing an estimated £2million in repairs.
These days, he is often spotted on horse rides close to his home as he whiles away his days. It has been reported that the Duke had harboured hopes of a return to public life - despite it seemingly unlikely. But even though a return to public duties may be off the cards, one prominent royal author believes King Charles will not abandon his brother.
Robert Hardman, the author of Charles III, a biography of the monarch, suggests the Firm are keen to keep Andrew on the inside, saying one royal insider claimed: "Andrew could be far more damaging outside the loop." While another said: "The King will not just cast his brother adrift. He is very fond of his nieces [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie]. And at least [Andrew] hasn't been disloyal. But any return to public life is out of the question. His legal problems are not resolved, the public don't want him and many people still remember his rudeness last time round."