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After a lifetime in the royal fold, Prince Andrew’s ousting from the British royal family was swift and final. In July 2019, convicted sex offender and businessman Jefferey Epstein died by suicide while he was imprisoned. His death, which occurred amid an investigation about his apparent sex trafficking of minors, made the FBI and investigators take a closer look into his inner circle.

Prince Andrew, who had been friends with Epstein since 1999 and remained friends with him after his 2008 conviction kept coming up. Though the Duke of York denied any wrongdoing, when he was accused of sex abuse and after an ill-informed interview with BBC News Night, the royal family decided they’d had enough.

After decades of party-boy behavior, the prince’s time in the spotlight had finally come to an end. Though Prince Philip was instrumental in getting his son to step back, the Duke of Edinburgh used to admire Prince Andrew.

The Duke of York attended a press launch at the Trocadero centre, London, with the all new girl band The Thunderbugs to bring awareness for the NSPCC Full stop campaign to end cruelty to children. Band members Brigitte and Jane gave the Duke a warm welcome. *08/12/2000 The NSPCC Friday December 8, 2000 defended its spending record after figures revealed that half of the money it receives does not go directly on services for children. The charity admitted that it spends at least 50% of its total income on publicity, campaigning and administration. But a spokesman said those activities were vital for protecting children as well.
The Duke of York attended a press launch at the Trocadero centre, London, with the all new girl band The Thunderbugs to bring awareness for the NSPCC Full stop campaign to end cruelty to children. Band members Brigitte and Jane gave the Duke a warm welcome. | Michael Stephens – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

Prince Andrew has always had a playboy reputation

During Prince Andrew’s marriage to Sarah, Duchess of York, and in the years after, much focus was on the vivacious redhead, especially amid her infidelity and financial woes. Prince Andrew had always been cast in a positive light. However, the truth is, the price has always had a playboy reputation to those who had been following him closely.

With so much attention on the births of Prince William and Prince Harry when the prince was in his 20s, he was able to slide under the radar. “I think his reputation as the ‘partying prince’ was perfectly fair,” royal commentator Dicky Arbiter told Yahoo! U.K. “In the interview [with Newsnight] he came across as arrogant and boorish and you don’t develop that over time, you are either born like that or you’re not. He might deny that he was a party-goer but pictures tell a million stories.”

In fact, in many ways, the prince was able to cover up his reputation because of the Royal Navy and the Duchess of York.

Prince Philip told Prince Andrew to step down following his BBC News Night interview

Still, nearly 40 years later, the prince’s reputation caught up to him when he defended his friendship with Epstein on national TV. Having not cleared the News Night interview with the rest of the senior royals, it was a disaster.

It was Prince Philip, who has been retired from his royal duties since 2017 who told his son to step away.  An insider told Express,

It was a tense meeting and Philip told his son he had to take his punishment. There was no screaming or shouting but Philip told him in no uncertain terms that he had to step down for the sake of the monarchy. Philip doesn’t like trial by the media but he is realistic enough to realize that Andrew’s actions were a danger to the very fabric of the Royal Family.

Apparently the Duke of Edinburgh also asked his son to reveal any other skeletons lurking in his closet during their meeting.

Prince Philip In Naval Uniform Of Admiral Of The Fleet Joking With Prince Andrew While Inspecting The Passing Out Parade At Dartmouth Royal Naval College In Which His Son Is Taking Part.
Prince Philip In Naval Uniform Of Admiral Of The Fleet Joking With Prince Andrew While Inspecting The Passing Out Parade At Dartmouth Royal Naval College In Which His Son Is Taking Part. | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
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Prince Philip used to admire Prince Andrew

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew have always been aware of their son’s reputation. “Andrew’s romantic escapades, together with some much-publicized midshipman japes (he has a penchant for practical jokes), earned him the reputation of Royal Lout-About-Town, a label that saddened his mother and annoyed his father,” Journalist Sue Arnold wrote for Vanity Fair in 1986.

However, despite his annoyance, Prince Philip also admired his second-born son. “Secretly, however, Prince Philip admires Andrew’s macho action-man image – it reminds him of his own youth,” Arnold wrote.

Now, the Duke of Edinburgh has his regrets. An insider told The Sun, “Philip regrets Andrew doesn’t know how to lead a simple life. He thinks he’s been too extravagant.”

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